Activating Windows XP

[Desi]

My dad recently bought the upgrade to Windows XP. He
loaded and acitvated it on his computer.Then we loaded it
on my computer when we heard that there may be a problem
because you can only load this on one computer. Is this
so? Do you have to buy the upgrade for every computer in
a household?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

On the back of the Windows XP box, please read the statement
"For installation and use on one computer"
(see License Agreement for license terms).

To access the License Agreement on your XP computer, go to:

Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter.

Then click on "End-User License Agreement".

You can also open XP's "Help and Support" and type: EULA
and hit enter. Click on "Questions and answers about the EULA".

The End-User License Agreement states quite clearly:

"You may install, use, access, display and run one copy
of the Software on a single computer...."

You can install one (1) copy of Windows XP on one (1) computer.
Additional installations requires additional licenses (Product Keys)
for each installation on a different computer.

HOW TO: Change the Product Key at the Time of Activation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810892&Product=winxp

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Home Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/addlic.asp

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp

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

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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


| My dad recently bought the upgrade to Windows XP. He
| loaded and acitvated it on his computer.Then we loaded it
| on my computer when we heard that there may be a problem
| because you can only load this on one computer. Is this
| so? Do you have to buy the upgrade for every computer in
| a household?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Yes, you have to buy one copy of XP per computer. You might like to have a look at the following links:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/addlic.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


| My dad recently bought the upgrade to Windows XP. He
| loaded and acitvated it on his computer.Then we loaded it
| on my computer when we heard that there may be a problem
| because you can only load this on one computer. Is this
| so? Do you have to buy the upgrade for every computer in
| a household?

 

[Tedd Riggs]

What happens if you use a docking station for your laptop that has a built
in HD and the laptop boots to that HD when installed ? Would you then need
two licenses for this application or one ? This one looks like somewhat of a
gray line to me as you could not ever run the two copies at the same time
and the machine that is running it is the same unit.
Thanks
Tedd

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You may install one copy of Windows XP on one hard drive.
Installation on a second hard drive requires a second license.
It doesn't matter if you are only running one Windows XP
installation at one time. This is not a "gray line".

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

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

| What happens if you use a docking station for your laptop that has a built
| in HD and the laptop boots to that HD when installed ? Would you then need
| two licenses for this application or one ? This one looks like somewhat of a
| gray line to me as you could not ever run the two copies at the same time
| and the machine that is running it is the same unit.
| Thanks
| Tedd
|
| --
| Tedd Riggs
| PDA Square Content Developer

 

[Tedd Riggs]

Thanks Carey,
My "grey line" comment came from the days of being able to use the same
license on your Desktop and your laptop as long as they were not used at the
same time. However I think this was in reference to Office and not Windows.
Actually our IT group was the one that commented on the grey line reference,
thanks alot for clearing that one up.
Sure you do not need a new job Carey ? I would love to have someone that
comes from the modern world in our IT group. They seem sad we do not use
punch cards and IBM 370's anymore....
Tedd

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The retail version of Office XP or Office 2003 does permit two
installations using the same license (Product Key). One installation
can be done on a desktop and the other on a notebook computer.

The Windows license has always stipulated the one license - one
computer installation requirement. With Windows XP, the new
Product Activation feature only permits activation on the first PC
installation and will not activate on a second installation on a
different computer.

Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Product Activation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302878&Product=winxp

Windows Product Activation (WPA) on Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Alex Nichol]

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

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

| Thanks Carey,
| My "grey line" comment came from the days of being able to use the same
| license on your Desktop and your laptop as long as they were not used at the
| same time. However I think this was in reference to Office and not Windows.
| Actually our IT group was the one that commented on the grey line reference,
| thanks alot for clearing that one up.
| Sure you do not need a new job Carey ? I would love to have someone that
| comes from the modern world in our IT group. They seem sad we do not use
| punch cards and IBM 370's anymore....
| Tedd
|
| --
| Tedd Riggs
| PDA Square Content Developer

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

My dad recently bought the upgrade to Windows XP. He
loaded and acitvated it on his computer.Then we loaded it
on my computer when we heard that there may be a problem
because you can only load this on one computer. Is this
so? Do you have to buy the upgrade for every computer in
a household?

Yes. The rule is quite clear. It's one copy (or one license) for
each computer.

There's nothing new here. This is exactly the same rule that's
been in effect on every version of Windows starting with Windows
3.1. The only thing new with XP is that there's now an
enforcement mechanism.

 

[kurttrail]

My dad recently bought the upgrade to Windows XP. He
loaded and acitvated it on his computer.Then we loaded it
on my computer when we heard that there may be a problem
because you can only load this on one computer. Is this
so? Do you have to buy the upgrade for every computer in
a household?

http://microscum.com/mmpafaq/

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"

 

[Frank]

Has MS offered you an XBOX yet? They did Mike Crowe.

 

[kurttrail]

Has MS offered you an XBOX yet? They did Mike Crowe.

Nope, MS only picks on those that can't defend themselves. Plus, I've
protected my site by both being totally non-commercial, and by being a
Parody of their site.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"

 

[anonymous]

Not much much of an enforcement. just tell xp its a dockable laptop and a
generic ide driver .....

 

[Frank]

Nope, MS only picks on those that can't defend themselves. Plus, I've
protected my site by both being totally non-commercial, and by being a
Parody of their site.

I really don't see MS picking on someone as I see these __holier than
thou__
MVP's, giving legal advice without being licensed to do so.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Of course you'll need to buy a license for each computer on which
you want to install the OS. Do you have to upgrade every computer in
your house? No.

As it has *always* been with *all* Microsoft operating systems,
it's necessary (to be in compliance with both the EULA, 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) multiple installations
using a single license

You can, however, buy additional licenses, assuming you have a
retail license. Naturally, Microsoft cannot sell additional OEM
licenses. Be aware, however, that you'll probably pay more this way
than you would if you were to buy a second copy of WinXP from a
discount retailer; Microsoft will only offer you a 15% discount off
their MSRP.

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Home Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/addlic.asp

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp


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

 

[Alex Nichol]

My dad recently bought the upgrade to Windows XP. He
loaded and acitvated it on his computer.Then we loaded it
on my computer when we heard that there may be a problem
because you can only load this on one computer. Is this
so? Do you have to buy the upgrade for every computer in
a household?

Yes you do. As has always been so for Windows. That is why there is
the Product Activation system - to stop you