Another Stolen Laptop Question

[Recursive Error]

My HP Laptop with preloaded XP Pro was stolen. I do have the HP
branded XP Pro install disk ("only for distribution with an HP PC")
that came with the laptop and the product key from the sticker on the
now stolen laptop. I got some insurance money and I am looking to buy
a replacement computer (probably a desktop model, also from HP) but
Vista is my only OS option. If possible, I would like to reformat the
new PC using my old XP Pro disk.

Most of the discussions surrounding this scenario seem to say I'm not
able to use my old disk to install XP Pro. A few opinions seem to
differ. I believe there are both licensing issues and technical
issues.

The licensing is what confuses me. I'm interested to know from this
group what my legal options are regarding the license, no matter how
ridiculous or impractical. I am willing to battle with the technical
stuff.

Can I simply reformat the new HD an install my old XP Pro?

Can I deny the Vista EULA and do the same?

Can I install my XP Pro in a dual OS environment?

Is my XP CD nothing more than a coaster now?

Any other options?

 

[Jim]

You may want to ask HP if they provide WinXP setup CD so you can chose what
OS to use on your new machine. I heard IBM allows customers to downgrade to
XP. I got a Compaq PC that came with both Win2000Pro and WinXP Pro setup CDs
back in 2002 (if I remember correctly) when WinXP first came out.

 

[HeyBub]

Can I simply reformat the new HD an install my old XP Pro?

Legally? No.

Can I deny the Vista EULA and do the same?

You can deny EULA, but then you'd have nothing.

Can I install my XP Pro in a dual OS environment?

Legally, no.

Is my XP CD nothing more than a coaster now?

Legally, yes.

Any other options?

Ask that your computer come loaded with XP.

 

[Alias]

My HP Laptop with preloaded XP Pro was stolen. I do have the HP
branded XP Pro install disk ("only for distribution with an HP PC")
that came with the laptop and the product key from the sticker on the
now stolen laptop. I got some insurance money and I am looking to buy
a replacement computer (probably a desktop model, also from HP) but
Vista is my only OS option. If possible, I would like to reformat the
new PC using my old XP Pro disk.

Most of the discussions surrounding this scenario seem to say I'm not
able to use my old disk to install XP Pro. A few opinions seem to
differ. I believe there are both licensing issues and technical
issues.

The licensing is what confuses me. I'm interested to know from this
group what my legal options are regarding the license, no matter how
ridiculous or impractical. I am willing to battle with the technical
stuff.

Can I simply reformat the new HD an install my old XP Pro?

Can I deny the Vista EULA and do the same?

Can I install my XP Pro in a dual OS environment?

Is my XP CD nothing more than a coaster now?

Any other options?

Dell sells computers with XP. Go to their web site and look for Business
Desktops. Your CD is probably just a coaster being as it was made for a
lap top if it, indeed, is branded. If it is a generic OEM XP, you can do
it and it will activate online, be genuine at Windows Updates but
Microsoft won't like it and nor will the MS fanboys here.

Alias

 

[LVTravel]

Colin, please correct me if I am wrong but in reading the
system requirements for Virtual PC, apparently the operating
systems that it can be installed on are only those that can
be classified as pro versions (XP Pro, Vista Ultimate, XP
Server, etc.) Have you, or anyone else, tried to run it on
a XP Home or Vista Home system and what was the outcome of
that endeavor?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

VPC can be installed and run on all the home editions. It just isn't
supported on them. That is, VPC on a home edition is not eligible for MS
phone and email support.

Lots of folks run VPC on XP Home, Vista Home Basic, and Vista Home Premium.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Encouraging other users to stay in compliance to the End User License
Agreement is not being a "fan."

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My HP Laptop with preloaded XP Pro was stolen. I do have the HP
branded XP Pro install disk ("only for distribution with an HP PC")
that came with the laptop and the product key from the sticker on the
now stolen laptop. I got some insurance money and I am looking to buy
a replacement computer (probably a desktop model, also from HP) but
Vista is my only OS option. If possible, I would like to reformat the
new PC using my old XP Pro disk.

Most of the discussions surrounding this scenario seem to say I'm not
able to use my old disk to install XP Pro. A few opinions seem to
differ. I believe there are both licensing issues and technical
issues.

That's correct. There are both licensing and technical issues:

The licensing issue: an OEM license permanently ties that copy of
Windows to the first computer it's installed on. It can never legally
be moved to another computer, sold, or given away, except with that
computer.

The technical issue: most OEM copies that come pre-installed with a
brand-name computer are BIOS-locked to that motherboard and won't work
with another one unless it's exactly the same.

The licensing is what confuses me. I'm interested to know from this
group what my legal options are regarding the license, no matter how
ridiculous or impractical. I am willing to battle with the technical
stuff.

Can I simply reformat the new HD an install my old XP Pro?

No.


Can I deny the Vista EULA and do the same?

No.


Can I install my XP Pro in a dual OS environment?

No.


Is my XP CD nothing more than a coaster now?

Yes.


Any other options?

Use Vista on your new laptop. Although it's different from XP, and
will take some getting used to, it's worth the effort. As long as you
get a computer with good-enough hardware for Vista (in particular, be
sure you get at least 2GB of RAM) it works very well.

 

[John]

Here's what I know. OEM license lives and dies with the computer it's
installed on. Period.

Most of your questions start with "Can I... blah blah". The answer depends
on the setup media CD/DVD. If it allows you to run setup on any machine, the
answer is Yes, you can. Is that legal? No, it isn't.

 

[LVTravel]

Thanks. Haven't tried it on Home but, as I said the web site said it.
Wanted to get the word from someone who knows before I did screw up the
system (even with proper backups.).

 

[Patrick Keenan]

My HP Laptop with preloaded XP Pro was stolen. I do have the HP
branded XP Pro install disk ("only for distribution with an HP PC")
that came with the laptop and the product key from the sticker on the
now stolen laptop. I got some insurance money and I am looking to buy
a replacement computer (probably a desktop model, also from HP) but
Vista is my only OS option. If possible, I would like to reformat the
new PC using my old XP Pro disk.

This is actually a bad idea, though it is true that to downgrade you would
have to wipe or replace the drive.

Instead, avoid all the hassles and get a system that ships with XP as an
option; there are *many*, in particular those targeted towards business
users. If HP doesn't offer them, Dell certainly does.

The technical problem is simple and critical. You may *never* be able to
get XP drivers for key components, and will wind up with an unusable system.

XP and Vista drivers are not interchangeable.

If you find a Vista system for which XP drivers are available, it's very
likely that it's also sold with XP installed instead of Vista. So why
bother with the hassle?

Most of the discussions surrounding this scenario seem to say I'm not
able to use my old disk to install XP Pro.

You may be able to simply install it, but it will not be a legal license,
and it will not provide you with the drivers that you need right after you
install XP.

A few opinions seem to
differ. I believe there are both licensing issues and technical
issues.

The licensing is what confuses me. I'm interested to know from this
group what my legal options are regarding the license, no matter how
ridiculous or impractical.

Your legal options don't exist. The XP license your disk is from is with
the stolen laptop. The license has beed stolen from you; you no longer
possess it. It may or may not be recovered, but that is immaterial to
re-use of that CD on any other system.

The license is represented by the installation of XP, not by the CD.

I am willing to battle with the technical
stuff.

It's not a battle remotely worth fighting when it's easy to find out in
advance whether you can win, and when doing that also identifies systems
that come with XP in the first place.

Get the right system. Don't waste your time and money.

Can I simply reformat the new HD an install my old XP Pro?

Formatting is necessary for a Vista downgrade.

Can I deny the Vista EULA and do the same?

You have to wipe a Vista disk to perform a downgrade install. Denying the
Vista EULA will simply halt system configuration.

As to downgrade installs, no version of Vista with Home in the name supports
downgrade rights. These rights are basically restricted to Business and
Ultimate.

But, the downgrade does require *you* to provide the XP install media.
That disk may be useful in that context, because a new license will be
issued by MS, separate from the original, stolen license.

This, however, does not resolve any driver issues.

Can I install my XP Pro in a dual OS environment?

Often, but you may need to install it *first*. Your Vista install media
may not support this; some start with wiping the drive.

Is my XP CD nothing more than a coaster now?

It may be of value to someone else with the same laptop as your stolen one
who has lost or damaged theirs, or as Vista downgrade media. I wouldn't
toss it.

Any other options?

Just do it properly in the first place. Get a system with the OS you
actually need. This is *not* difficult to do.

HTH
-pk

 

[Alias]

Encouraging other users to stay in compliance to the End User License
Agreement is not being a "fan."

Sorry, you won't like it either, although some would consider
"encouraging other users to stay in compliance to the EULA" as aiding
and abetting MS' license scam.

Alias

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My HP Laptop with preloaded XP Pro was stolen. I do have the HP
branded XP Pro install disk ("only for distribution with an HP PC")
that came with the laptop and the product key from the sticker on the
now stolen laptop. I got some insurance money and I am looking to buy
a replacement computer (probably a desktop model, also from HP) but
Vista is my only OS option. If possible, I would like to reformat the
new PC using my old XP Pro disk.

Most of the discussions surrounding this scenario seem to say I'm not
able to use my old disk to install XP Pro. A few opinions seem to
differ. I believe there are both licensing issues and technical
issues.

That's correct.

The licensing is what confuses me.

How so? It's quite straight-forward. An OEM version must be sold with
a piece of hardware (normally a motherboard or hard drive, if not an
entire PC) and is _permanently_ bound to the first PC on which it's
installed. An OEM license, once installed, is not legally transferable
to another computer under _any_ circumstances.

I'm interested to know from this
group what my legal options are regarding the license, no matter how
ridiculous or impractical. I am willing to battle with the technical
stuff.

Can I simply reformat the new HD an install my old XP Pro?

Not legally, and probably not technically, as the OEM WinXP CC will
have been BIOS-locked to the original computer as an anti-puiracy measure.

Can I deny the Vista EULA and do the same?

No.

Can I install my XP Pro in a dual OS environment?

No.


Is my XP CD nothing more than a coaster now?

No. Your license to use it was stolen along with the laptop.

Any other options?

Either purchase a new computer with WinXP, or purchase a retail WinXP
license to replace the OEM Vista license.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Recursive Error]

Thanks to all for your suggestions and comments. This has been very
educational!

 

[Mike C#]

Thanks to all for your suggestions and comments. This has been very
educational!

No doubt. Who knew you had to pass the Bar Exam to be qualified to install
software?