activation/ using multiple hard drives

[Guest]

I recently purchased a new computer which came with windows 98 installed on
it. I updated this to windows xp but since my disk has been used before, I
cannot activate.
I have my old hard drive which I would still like to use that has Windows xp
activated on it.
When I unplug the hard drive that came with the computer and plug in my old
hard drive, windows does not start. But when I plug in both hard drives
every thing starts off fine.
Is there any way I can use the activated windows xp from my old hard drive?

 

[ANONYMOUS]

My reply is shown inline!!

I recently purchased a new computer which came with windows 98 installed

Did you buy a second hand computer? New computers don't come with Win
98!!

I updated this to windows xp but since my disk has been used before,

How did you update this? did you also buy an upgrade or full retail
version of XP? You are not telling us the full story because activation
does not depend on whether or not disk has been used; Activation
depends on whether the OS and serial number that came with it has
already been used.

I have my old hard drive which I would still like to use that has Windows xp
activated on it.

No you can't do this. XP is "copy protected" to thwart piracy. The
words "Copy Protection" here is used in general term.

When I unplug the hard drive that came with the computer and plug in my old
hard drive, windows does not start.

This should be something to do with connection of HD. It should start
but you get errors or the system freezes because the Windows on HD has
different hardware configuration from the one which originally had the
HD.

But when I plug in both hard drives every thing starts off fine.

It could be booting up from Win 98 OS right?

Is there any way I can use the activated windows xp from my old hard drive?

Only by reinstalling the OS from scrath so that all configurations are
done properly. Don't try to use "activated windows xp from old hard
drive"

hth

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I recently purchased a new computer which came with windows 98
installed on it.

A "new" computer that came with Windows 98? Windows 98 hasn't come on new
computers for a good many years now.

I updated this to windows xp but since my disk has
been used before, I cannot activate.

No, that's not correct. There is no limit on how many times the disk can be
used or whether you can activate.

There are only two issues here:

1. Is that copy of Windows XP currently installed on another computer? If
so, you may not use it on this one.

2. Even if not's currently installed elsewhere, if it's an OEM copy rather
than a retail one, you may not use it on this computer. That's because the
OEM license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed on.

If neither of those issues is applicable, you can activate without a
problem.

I have my old hard drive which I would still like to use that has
Windows xp activated on it.
When I unplug the hard drive that came with the computer and plug in
my old hard drive, windows does not start. But when I plug in both
hard drives every thing starts off fine.

That sounds like you didn't reset the drive jumper to Master (or only) on
the remaining drive when you removed the drive that came with the computer

Is there any way I can use the activated windows xp from my old hard
drive?

First make sure that the jumpers are set correctly. Then, you need to
understand that if you move a drive containing WIndows to another computer,
it's highly unlikely that that Windows will simply boot in the new computer.
Unless the new motherboard is almost identical to the old one, at the very
least, you'll have to do a Repair Installation. See "How to Perform a
Windows XP Repair Install" at
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

That usually works, but If the new motherboard is different enough, it may
not, and you will need to reinstall cleanly, losing all your data and
everything else on the drive.

 

[Christopher Kurtis Koeber]

Why don't you do a phone activation? Since you already have a licensed copy
it should be no problem (Takes about 5 minutes of your time).
Regards,
Christopher Koeber