Installing Xp Home on different computer

[Dan]

My computer crashed, got overheated. My motherboard, cpu and video card
fried. Am going to try building my own this time using PCMechanic build
your own pc. Is it ok for me to install my WinXP on my new computer and will
I have problems with Microsoft when I have to activate it. The old one is
gone (along with the computer).

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Dan.

Is it ok for me to install my WinXP on my new computer and will
I have problems with Microsoft when I have to activate it.

That depends. Did the old computer come with WinXP pre-installed? If so,
that copy of WinXP was licensed only to that specific computer. When the
computer died, that OEM WinXP license died with it. :>(

But if you have a retail WinXP CD-ROM, then you can freely transfer the
license to any other single computer. If it has been more than 120 days
since it was last installed, it should activate cleanly over the Internet.
If you last installed it (after a previous meltdown? or because of a major
hardware upgrade?) more recently, then you probably will have to make a
5-minute phone call to get a new activation code.

For official details, see:
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation.mspx

RC

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP]

My computer crashed, got overheated. My motherboard, cpu and video
card fried. Am going to try building my own this time using
PCMechanic build your own pc. Is it ok for me to install my WinXP on
my new computer and will I have problems with Microsoft when I have
to activate it. The old one is gone (along with the computer).

Yes, you can install it on the new machine. You will have to activate it by
telephone.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My computer crashed, got overheated. My motherboard, cpu and video
card fried. Am going to try building my own this time using
PCMechanic build your own pc. Is it ok for me to install my WinXP on
my new computer and will I have problems with Microsoft when I have
to activate it. The old one is gone (along with the computer).

Assuming a retail license (OEM licenses are not transferable under
any circumstances), simply remove WinXP from the computer it is
currently on(a moot point if the first PC is dead, of course), and
install it onto the new one. If it's been more than 120 days since
you last activated that specific Product Key, you'll most likely be
able to activate via the Internet without problem. If it's been less,
you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm

--

Bruce Chambers

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[Dan]

Computer is completely dead. I have a retail version of XP Home CD Rom. No
need to uninstall, other hard drive fried! Thank You all for your
response's.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP]

Yes, you can install it on the new machine. You will have to
activate it by telephone.

See R. C. White's response, which is more accurate.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/