Windows XP Pro activation with Upgrade license

[Guest]

Here's the timeline of what happened:

- I purchased a new computer with Windows XP Pro on it
- I bought a new hard drive and put it in my father's old Win98 machine
- I put my full version of Windows XP Pro on the new hard drive (so I didn't have to install Win98 again and the an XP Upgrade)
- I purchased the WinXP Pro upgrade so he would have a valid license to activate (he is legally eligible for the upgrade since he came from a Win98 machine)
- The WinXP Pro Upgrade code doesn't seem to work when activating the product

Do I need to buy a full license for WinXP and just eat the Upgrade license? Help!

 

[Joe Sanchez]

Hi Joe
Call toll free 1-888-571-2048
Hope this Helps

Joe

Here's the timeline of what happened:

- I purchased a new computer with Windows XP Pro on it
- I bought a new hard drive and put it in my father's old Win98 machine
- I put my full version of Windows XP Pro on the new hard drive (so I

didn't have to install Win98 again and the an XP Upgrade)

- I purchased the WinXP Pro upgrade so he would have a valid license to

activate (he is legally eligible for the upgrade since he came from a Win98
machine)

- The WinXP Pro Upgrade code doesn't seem to work when activating the product

Do I need to buy a full license for WinXP and just eat the Upgrade

license? Help!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

One cannot install an OEM version of Windows XP on another computer.
You'll need to perform a "clean install" using the XP upgrade version you
already purchased.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]


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

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| Here's the timeline of what happened:
|
| - I purchased a new computer with Windows XP Pro on it
| - I bought a new hard drive and put it in my father's old Win98 machine
| - I put my full version of Windows XP Pro on the new hard drive (so I didn't have to install Win98 again and the an XP
Upgrade)
| - I purchased the WinXP Pro upgrade so he would have a valid license to activate (he is legally eligible for the
upgrade since he came from a Win98 machine)
| - The WinXP Pro Upgrade code doesn't seem to work when activating the product
|
| Do I need to buy a full license for WinXP and just eat the Upgrade license? Help!

 

[D.Currie]

Here's the timeline of what happened:

- I purchased a new computer with Windows XP Pro on it
- I bought a new hard drive and put it in my father's old Win98 machine
- I put my full version of Windows XP Pro on the new hard drive (so I

didn't have to install Win98 again and the an XP Upgrade)

- I purchased the WinXP Pro upgrade so he would have a valid license to

activate (he is legally eligible for the upgrade since he came from a Win98
machine)

- The WinXP Pro Upgrade code doesn't seem to work when activating the product

Do I need to buy a full license for WinXP and just eat the Upgrade

license? Help!

The keys aren't interchangeable between the types of software, so the
upgrade key won't work with the OEM software.

You're going to need to load the upgrade on the machine if you want to use
the upgrade key. You wouldn't have to load Win 98 first, as long as you have
proper software to show as the previous version.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Product Keys are bound to the specific type of CD/license (OEM,
Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are purchased. For
example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail
version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice
versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full version
CD, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to install a
retail product. Product Keys and CDs cannot be mixed & matched.

You may be able to use the Upgrade CD to perform a repair (a.k.a.
in-place upgrade) installation, using the opportunity to enter the
correct Product Key:

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

As always when undertaking such a significant change, back up any
important data before starting.

Also, and I say this just for your information because your intent
was clearly to end up with two legitimately licensed PCs, by
installing your OEM OS on a PC other than that with which it was
purchased, you not only violated the OEM EULA, but you technically
voided (should Microsoft elect to pursue the matter) your license to
use that particular OS license on _any_ PC. And then you announced
this faux pas in a news group hosted by and located on servers
belonging to Microsoft, the company whose product you've just
technically pirated. Just a thought for future endeavors: Sometimes
short-cuts can cause more problems than they solve.


Bruce Chambers

--
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having both at once. -- RAH

Here's the timeline of what happened:

- I purchased a new computer with Windows XP Pro on it
- I bought a new hard drive and put it in my father's old Win98 machine
- I put my full version of Windows XP Pro on the new hard drive (so

I didn't have to install Win98 again and the an XP Upgrade)

- I purchased the WinXP Pro upgrade so he would have a valid license

to activate (he is legally eligible for the upgrade since he came from
a Win98 machine)

- The WinXP Pro Upgrade code doesn't seem to work when activating the product

Do I need to buy a full license for WinXP and just eat the Upgrade

license? Help!