Activation problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jane
  • Start date Start date
J

Jane

My PC failed and is past repair. I have therefore bought
a new one with no operating system, and want to install
XP using the CD from the previous PC. As it is an OEM CD,
I seem to be prevented from activating on the new PC. How
can I get round this? It seems unfair to have to buy a
new XP CD in these circumstances.

Any help appreciated.

Jane
 
Jane;
OEM Windows is normally permanently tied to the original computer
regardless the condition of the computer.
You need to buy another copy.

Another of the many reasons you paid less for OEM.
 
You can't get around it. OEM copies are Windows are bound to the hardware
they are sold with. It's in the EULA that you must agree to in order to run
Windows.
 
The same thing happened to my son. My son purchased an HP
computer that came with no system disks (only discovered
after warranty had expired...of coarse). While attempting
to install Xp pro something happened and Xp home was
damaged somehow. He is able to install Xp home from
another computer's startup disk but after 30 days he
cannot access it and must repeat. Now he owns two
computers with a defective copy of Xp on one and a
functioning copy of Xp pro ontop of Xp home on another.
How fair is that? He now has to purchase another copy of
Xp home? I think Linux is looking raally good right now!
 
Greetings --

There's nothing unfair about it. You saved a substantial amount
of money by using an OEM license.

OEM versions must be sold with a piece of hardware (normally
a motherboard or hard drive, if not an entire PC, although Microsoft
has greatly relaxed the hardware criteria for WinXP) and are
_permanently_ bound to the first PC on which they are installed. An
OEM license, once installed, is not legally transferable to another
computer under any circumstances. The only legitimate way to transfer
the ownership of an OEM license is to transfer ownership of the entire
PC. This is the best reason to avoid OEM versions; if the PC dies or
is otherwise disposed of (even stolen), you cannot re-use your OEM
license on a new PC.


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
 
Greetings --

When buying a PC, just like buying a car, the most basic, simple
rule is "Buyer beware." You son got what he paid for. That seems
fair to me.


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
 
Mark said:
The same thing happened to my son. My son purchased an HP
computer that came with no system disks (only discovered
after warranty had expired...of coarse). While attempting
to install Xp pro something happened and Xp home was
damaged somehow. He is able to install Xp home from
another computer's startup disk but after 30 days he
cannot access it and must repeat. Now he owns two
computers with a defective copy of Xp on one and a
functioning copy of Xp pro ontop of Xp home on another.
How fair is that? He now has to purchase another copy of
Xp home? I think Linux is looking raally good right now!
Click to expand...
Mark,
Contact HP and explain you lost the ability to restore from the hard drive
restore partition and need the restore CD disks. They will sometimes sell
the restore CD's for a nominal charge.
Is he sure the restore files are not still on the computer. Look closely
during boot up for text messages for entering bios and diagnostics.

--

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
 
The mis-assumption you're making is that you paid full price for that copy
of Windows. You didn't, and you got what you paid for -- HP's version of
system recovery.

I like HP's printers just fine, but this is just one reason why I wouldn't
buy one of their computers.
 
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