Uninstall XP Home & Install XP Pro

[Guest]

Quick question with a detailed story:
Recently, I bought XP Pro to install on my desktop. I haven't opened the
box yet. I am also thinking of buying a laptop (already built). The laptop
has XP Home on it. I'm going to give my desktop to my son. Is there any way
I can unistall the XP Home from the laptop and install it to the desktop?
Then, can I install XP Pro on the laptop? Or will I have to buy another XP
pro to "upgrade" the laptop to XP Pro?
Note: Currently my desktop has ME installed so XP Home would be good enough
for it. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

A computer that is sold with a preinstalled version
of Windows XP is an "OEM version". It cannot
be transferred or activated on a different computer.
Therefore, you cannot install the OEM Windows XP
Home Edition on a different computer.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

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:

| Quick question with a detailed story:
| Recently, I bought XP Pro to install on my desktop. I haven't opened the
| box yet. I am also thinking of buying a laptop (already built). The laptop
| has XP Home on it. I'm going to give my desktop to my son. Is there any way
| I can unistall the XP Home from the laptop and install it to the desktop?
| Then, can I install XP Pro on the laptop? Or will I have to buy another XP
| pro to "upgrade" the laptop to XP Pro?
| Note: Currently my desktop has ME installed so XP Home would be good enough
| for it. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Trent SC]

A computer that is sold with a preinstalled version

of Windows XP is an "OEM version". It cannot
be transferred or activated on a different computer.
Therefore, you cannot install the OEM Windows XP
Home Edition on a different computer.

Can I just clarify your answer - do you mean that an OEM copy of XP cannot
be installed on another computer (in other words, there's a system-based
block on the installation routine), or may not be installed?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You won't be able to "activate" the OEM version
of Windows XP if you install it on a different computer.
The OEM license is forever tied to the very first PC's
hardware configuration, mainly the motherboard.
Only "Retail Versions" of Windows XP are transferable
to a different computer.

Some computer manufacturers custom design their
OEM versions of Windows XP so that it will not install
or activate if a particular motherboard BIOS is not present.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

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

:

| Can I just clarify your answer - do you mean that an OEM copy of XP cannot
| be installed on another computer (in other words, there's a system-based
| block on the installation routine), or may not be installed?

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Can I just clarify your answer - do you mean that an OEM copy
of XP
cannot be installed on another computer (in other words,
there's a
system-based block on the installation routine), or may not be
installed?

It depends on the particular OEM. Sometimes the former is true,
but the latter always is.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Quick question with a detailed story:
Recently, I bought XP Pro to install on my desktop. I haven't opened the
box yet. I am also thinking of buying a laptop (already built). The laptop
has XP Home on it. I'm going to give my desktop to my son. Is there any way
I can unistall the XP Home from the laptop and install it to the desktop?
Then, can I install XP Pro on the laptop? Or will I have to buy another XP
pro to "upgrade" the laptop to XP Pro?
Note: Currently my desktop has ME installed so XP Home would be good enough
for it. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

No, you can't. You'll need to purchase a separate WinXP license
for each computer on which you install it.

You have an OEM license for WinXP Home on the laptop. An OEM
version must be sold with a non-peripheral piece of hardware (normally a
motherboard or hard rive, if not an entire PC) and is _permanently_
bound to the first PC on which it's installed. An OEM license, once
installed, is not legally transferable to another computer under _any_
circumstances. You may remove or replace it, if
you like, but you can neither reuse it on a different computer or
resell it (unless you're also selling the computer it's installed on).



--

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

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

Quick question with a detailed story:
Recently, I bought XP Pro to install on my desktop. I haven't opened
the box yet. I am also thinking of buying a laptop (already built).
The laptop has XP Home on it. I'm going to give my desktop to my
son. Is there any way I can unistall the XP Home from the laptop and
install it to the desktop? Then, can I install XP Pro on the laptop?
Or will I have to buy another XP pro to "upgrade" the laptop to XP
Pro?
Note: Currently my desktop has ME installed so XP Home would be good
enough for it. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

OEM versions of XP cannot be transferred.
Click on or copy and paste the links into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
OEM #17 on the FAQ list.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Plato]

Recently, I bought XP Pro to install on my desktop. I haven't opened the
box yet. I am also thinking of buying a laptop (already built). The laptop
has XP Home on it. I'm going to give my desktop to my son. Is there any way

Make sure you get the ORIGINAL SETUP disk(s) with the used laptop you
are considering buying. Put it on a credit card so you have a recorse in
case it's an illegit. copy.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Quick question with a detailed story:
Recently, I bought XP Pro to install on my desktop. I haven't opened the
box yet. I am also thinking of buying a laptop (already built). The laptop
has XP Home on it. I'm going to give my desktop to my son. Is there any way
I can unistall the XP Home from the laptop and install it to the desktop?

No. Apart from the probability that the laptop's system is customised
to its hardware, it is provided as an OEM license that only relates to
that machine, and it may *not* be transferred. I'd suggest you swap the
Pro for a Home for the desktop, and then later you could get a Pro
Upgrade for the laptop *if* it proves essential. About the only reason
I think likely is if you need to join to a 'domain' network at work