2 computers

[Khalil]

I own 2 computers and I bought MS XP Home edition, can I
install it on both computers with one licence?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

No, you need a second license - same as any version of Windows. Previously,
it was hard to enforce, now there is product activation to enforce it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Khalil]

Ok what happens one if one day I decide to formt my hard
drive and want to reinstall the same windows XP again? Do
I have to go out and buy a new one? What if I upgrade my
Hard drive and get a newer bigger one? Please dont tell me
I have to go out and buy a new license each time.

 

[Star Fleet Admiral Q]

Reinstall, No, Upgrade as you deem necessary, and No.

 

[Ken Blake]

Ok what happens one if one day I decide to formt my hard
drive and want to reinstall the same windows XP again? Do
I have to go out and buy a new one? What if I upgrade my
Hard drive and get a newer bigger one? Please dont tell me
I have to go out and buy a new license each time.

No, I won't tell you that. You are certainly allowed to reformat
and reinstall or to replace hardware. No new license is required,
neither with XP nor any previous version of Windows.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Of course not. As it has *always* been with *all* Microsoft
operating systems, it's necessary (to be in compliance with both the
EULA and copyright laws, if not technically) to purchase one WinXP
license for each computer on which it is installed. The only way in
which WinXP licensing differs from that of earlier versions of Windows
is that Microsoft has finally added a copy protection and anti-theft
mechanism, Product Activation, to prevent (or at least make more
difficult) the sort of multiple installations you're asking about.


Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Wherever did you get that idea? There's no limit to the number of
times you can activate the same WinXP license on the same PC.

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:

 

[Khalil]

So the software is registered to what exactly? I mean what
if my motherboard or any other hardware on my computer
gets fried and I need to replace it will that void my
windows xp?

 

[Ken Blake]

So the software is registered to what exactly? I mean what
if my motherboard or any other hardware on my computer
gets fried and I need to replace it will that void my
windows xp?

No, you can replace anything you need or want to, even the entire
computer. Your copy of XP (if it's a retail one) remeins valid.

The only exception is if you have an OEM version of Windows. The
license for the OEM version ties it permanently to the first
computer it's installed on. So you can not replace an entire
computer and move an OEM copy to the replacement.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

 

[Khalil]

Ok just so I know since mine is an OEM what part of the
hardware I cannot upgrade? What is the OEM tied to? Is it
tied to my motherboard?

 

[Ken Blake]

Ok just so I know since mine is an OEM what part of the
hardware I cannot upgrade? What is the OEM tied to? Is it
tied to my motherboard?

This, unfortunately, is an exceedingly gray area. As far as I
know, Microsoft has never made this clear. I think you could
legitimately argue that that since the requirement is for the
Product key to be attached to the case, that as long as you kept
that case, with the key, it's the same computer. Or you could
view it that as long as you kept *some* part of the old computer,
it's the same computer.

My guess is that this is a can of worms that Microsoft doesn't
even want to begin to get into, and they're content to leave it
as a gray area.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

 

[O Jobson]

Its illegal and so i'm not recomending you do this but i
will tell you how. if you install it on the second
computer you will need to activate it, you shouldnt be
able to do this as its already activated but you can get
past it. all you do is ring the number that comes up when
you try and activate it, tell the dude who answers the
phone (eventually) the number to activate it and he
should in turn give you an activation code (like you did
on the first installation if you did it by phone). if
they put up a fuss just tell them your reinstalling it on
the same computer.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The OEM license, once installed, is bound to the entire PC, not
any single hardware component. When does an incrementally upgraded PC
cease to be the original PC? According to Microsoft, that decision is
left entirely to the OEM. It's the point at which the PC's
manufacturer says that the hardware changes you've made have voided
your warranty and support agreements. For many OEMs, the deciding
factor is the motherboard, so they design their OEM software so that
it will not install on any motherboard other than the one they
initially provided in the PC. If you built the PC yourself, and
installed a generic OEM version of WinXP, _you_ get to decide when
it's no longer the same computer.

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:

 

[Donald Link]

NO, NO, NO, no way!!!!! Legally!!!! and if you have to ask this question
you would not know how to do it illegally.

 

[Roy Smith]

Ok what happens one if one day I decide to formt my hard
drive and want to reinstall the same windows XP again? Do
I have to go out and buy a new one? What if I upgrade my
Hard drive and get a newer bigger one? Please dont tell me
I have to go out and buy a new license each time.

No you don't. You can reinstall XP onto the same PC as many times as
you like. You can even make a certain number of hardware changes using
the same license without having to call Microsoft. Now if you do make a
large number of hardware changes, you'll then be directed to call a toll
free number to get XP activated again.