redeployment unactivated XP

[QRDL]

I would like to remove the unactivated Windows XP on my
new Asus laptop and use it on my desktop instead. This is
because the preformatted NTFS based XPpro is almost
impossible for me to add critical alternate OS after the
fact.

I would like to know whether there are technical
difficulties in installing the XPPro CD that come with the
laptop onto the desktop. I suspect my laptop XPPro is a
complete version, on the basis I have been asked
to "activate it". Beyond that, would Microsoft get upset
with this change of target machine for the XPpro that come
with the laptop that does not meet my needs due to reasons
stated?

I am planning to put my desktop win98 SE onto the laptop
as the primary OS due to smaller footprint, and the
ability to add newer OS later on if needed (e.g. longhorn?)
I am hoping the existing drivers and utilities can be
saved sufficiently well so they can be reapplied to the
laptop with firewire, USB2, LCD screen, power management
stuff, etc.

Only utility I have is Partition Magic 8 right now and I
would like some comments on how to go about these changes
with as little risk as possible.

Thanks in advance for your help in moving this XPpro to
the desktop, where it can "do it thing" better due to
bigger hard disk, easier to change peripherals, etc.

David
7th Jul 2003

 

[Nicholas]

Forget about using the XP Pro CD, that came with your laptop, to install
on your desktop. That CD is BIOS-locked to the laptop and will not install
on any other computer.

Chances are your new laptop does not have driver availability for the old
Windows 98 O/S anyway.

Windows Desktop Product Life Cycle Support and Availability Policies for Consumers
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/desktop/consumer/default.mspx


--
Nicholas

-----------------------------------------------------------------------


| I would like to remove the unactivated Windows XP on my
| new Asus laptop and use it on my desktop instead. This is
| because the preformatted NTFS based XPpro is almost
| impossible for me to add critical alternate OS after the
| fact.
|
| I would like to know whether there are technical
| difficulties in installing the XPPro CD that come with the
| laptop onto the desktop. I suspect my laptop XPPro is a
| complete version, on the basis I have been asked
| to "activate it". Beyond that, would Microsoft get upset
| with this change of target machine for the XPpro that come
| with the laptop that does not meet my needs due to reasons
| stated?
|
| I am planning to put my desktop win98 SE onto the laptop
| as the primary OS due to smaller footprint, and the
| ability to add newer OS later on if needed (e.g. longhorn?)
| I am hoping the existing drivers and utilities can be
| saved sufficiently well so they can be reapplied to the
| laptop with firewire, USB2, LCD screen, power management
| stuff, etc.
|
| Only utility I have is Partition Magic 8 right now and I
| would like some comments on how to go about these changes
| with as little risk as possible.
|
| Thanks in advance for your help in moving this XPpro to
| the desktop, where it can "do it thing" better due to
| bigger hard disk, easier to change peripherals, etc.
|
| David
| 7th Jul 2003

 

[QRDL]

"BIOS-locked" XPpro CD?

If that is so, can I have multiple versions of this XPpro
on this laptop in other partitions? I would like to have
a "test environment" if possible, in case a future install
mess things up and I do not detect the problems right away.

Thanks for alerting me to this "BIOS locked" thing, and
the web link from MS which I am studying now. I hope
future vendor BIOS upgrades would be allowed by Microsoft.


David

-----Original Message-----
Forget about using the XP Pro CD, that came with your laptop, to install
on your desktop. That CD is BIOS-locked to the laptop and will not install
on any other computer.

Chances are your new laptop does not have driver availability for the old
Windows 98 O/S anyway.

Windows Desktop Product Life Cycle Support and

Availability Policies for Consumers

 

[Mike Kolitz]

BIOS Upgrades are available from the vendor.
By "BIOS-locked", Nicholas meant that the version of Windows XP that came
with your laptop will not install on any other model of computer than the
one it came with.

Aside from that, OEM licenses (the kind that come with a new computer)
cannot be transferred to a different computer - they are "married" to the
first computer on which they are installed / activated. The BIOS lock is a
technological means of ensuring that.