Transferring XP license from broken laptop to new laptop?

[basscadet75]

Hey all,

Here's my situation. I've got a laptop that came with Windows XP
preinstalled. That laptop broke; I can no longer use it, nor can I
sell it (it is physically broken). So I may as well salvage the hard
drive and just dump the rest of the carcass up in my attic, which
means I keep the XP license I guess, even though I can't use it on the
machine it came with. I plan to remove the hard drive, reformat it
and use it as a portable drive for data.

Now, separately, I have a regular Windows XP install disc that I
bought for another computer. So, I have what seems to be a spare
license, and I have an install disc.

I just ordered a new laptop that comes with Windows Vista, which I
don't want. I want XP, but Lenovo (and anyone else) wanted $99 extra
for it, which I thought was excessive given that I don't need two OS's
(they make you take both) and anyway I thought I *might* be able to
reuse my now dead XP license.

The question is, can I install XP on my new laptop and use the license
(and product key, I guess) from my old laptop? It seems like I should
be able to given that I purchased the software as part of my laptop
purchase, I still own it, and I'd still only have one instance of this
product key installed. But I know that EULAs these days can be pretty
restrictive as far as consumer rights go.

If I can't do it, I guess I will just deal with Vista until Windows 7
comes out. But I figured I may as well ask, at least.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Your copy of XP came pre-installed on your laptop therefore it is an OEM
copy and is 'tied' to the original hardware, i.e., your laptop. You can't
install it on another machine.

If you had purchased a retail box copy of XP then you could have installed
it onto another machine. This is the advantage of retail boxed copies.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
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[basscadet75]

Your copy of XP came pre-installed on your laptop therefore it is an OEM
copy and is 'tied' to the original hardware, i.e., your laptop. You can't
install it on another  machine.

If you had purchased a retail box copy of XP then you could have installed
it onto another machine. This is the advantage of retail boxed copies.

Figured.

I'll probably end up wiping XP off my desktop, then (which is a retail
copy), putting it on the laptop and just installing Linux or something
on the desktop. I've been using my wife's Vista laptop since my own
broke, and I'm not sure how long I could take this.

Funny how MS's policy here is probably going to end up driving me
towards installing an open-source OS on one of my PC's.

Jeff

 

[Anteaus]

Legality of reusing XP depends on where you are. AFAIUI the dictate that OEM
licences cannot be transferred may not be enforceable in all countries, in
fact the restriction itself may even be illegal in some jurisdictions under
consumer-rights laws, although that has neve been put to the test.

Obviously it would not be legal to replace Vista Home with XPPro though. You
must use a product of equivalent or lower value to your licence.

Activation is your other concern, though this can usually be overcome by way
of phoning the hotline.

:

 

[HeyBub]

Figured.

I'll probably end up wiping XP off my desktop, then (which is a retail
copy), putting it on the laptop and just installing Linux or something
on the desktop. I've been using my wife's Vista laptop since my own
broke, and I'm not sure how long I could take this.

Funny how MS's policy here is probably going to end up driving me
towards installing an open-source OS on one of my PC's.

Change the order slightly. Try installing XP on the laptop before you wipe
it off the other machine.

You may not be able to install XP on the new laptop. Some Vista machines do
not have hardware drivers for XP available (though in fairness, most do).

As for Linux, the learning curve for a different operating system is steeper
than simply moving to Vista.

 

[Minh]

Short answer based on my experience: Yes, it is legal when you make sure that you delete the XP on your old laptop. Even if you are not, you stills can install the XP to new laptop without any problem to activate it by internet or phone. I bought an old laptop in order to get the OEM XP. About the Vista, just keep the COA - OS key on the back of your laptop, you may change your mind and want to use it in future.