transfering XP Pro from old laptop to new laptop

[Bob]

I have a laptop here in Bangkok that was purchased
locally. It has a legal XP Pro I purchased just for it.
The case has been damaged, so I need to purchase a new
laptop.
Can I transfer the license for my XP Pro to a new
laptop, so I don't have to purchase another one? The legal
ones here are $200US. Can I do that myself, or does that
need to be done by an authorized laptop dealer?
What about ordering a new laptop online, say, from
Dell? What would I do to transfer the license?
Thanks for any advice. Bob

 

[PA Bear]

Start here, Bob:

WPA FAQ, by MVP Alex Nichol
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

WinXP SP2 Release Notes
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;835935

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have a laptop here in Bangkok that was purchased
locally. It has a legal XP Pro I purchased just for it.
The case has been damaged, so I need to purchase a new
laptop.
Can I transfer the license for my XP Pro to a new
laptop, so I don't have to purchase another one? The legal
ones here are $200US. Can I do that myself, or does that
need to be done by an authorized laptop dealer?

As you bought it separately and not as a part of the laptop,
preinstalled, you can transfer it. You boot the CD and follow the
method for a clean install: Enter Setup, and after the license
agreement take New Install. When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC;
select and delete the current partition and make a new RAW one to be
formatted at the next stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one

Note that laptops can be idiosyncratic and customise (especially Compaq
ones) so it can't be guaranteed that a generic XP will install
successfully.

When it comes to activation, if it is more than 120 days since you last
did it, you will find it will go through on the net just like first
time. If not, you will have to phone a toll-free number that will be
given, to explain and swap one long number for another to check back as
you type it in

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a laptop here in Bangkok that was purchased
locally. It has a legal XP Pro I purchased just for it.
The case has been damaged, so I need to purchase a new
laptop.
Can I transfer the license for my XP Pro to a new
laptop, so I don't have to purchase another one? The legal
ones here are $200US. Can I do that myself, or does that
need to be done by an authorized laptop dealer?
What about ordering a new laptop online, say, from
Dell? What would I do to transfer the license?
Thanks for any advice. Bob

Assuming a retail license (OEM licenses are not transferable under
any circumstances), simply remove WinXP from the computer it is
currently on, 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

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Barry Watzman]

You will get a lot of answers on this, some saying you can, some saying
you can't. Some of the "can't" answers will be based on legalities,
others will be based on the "real world" (e.g. product activation and
"will it really work", given that the two laptops probably have
different hardware (chipsets, peripherals and, perhaps, CPUs).

Let's try a different tact: I gather that both laptops (old and new)
are still functional. I also presume that both laptops have XP on them,
since the old one did and a new one will typically come with it also.
Instead of trying to move the actual OS (which, most commonly, won't
work without at least a repair installation anyway), I'd suggest using
the "file and settings transfer wizzard" to move not the OS itself, but
rather your files and settings, from one computer to the other.

It's found under Start / Programs / Accessories / System Tools, and it
isn't used nearly often enough.