Can I install my legit copy of XP on a brand new PC?

[dustie]

hi all

I just got a brand new PC that I've built from scratch and want to install
my old Windows XP operating system on it so that I can scrap the old PC. A
friend has advised me though that my XP won't work on this PC as it won't
recognise the hardware and will assume I've pirated the software. This
can't be right, surely? I PAID for the software years ago so I should be
able to use it on any system I chose...

Can someone clarify if this will work or not?

cheers

 

[Jerry]

You can install your retail version of XP on the new system with no
problems, as long as it has been deleted/removed from the old system.

You will then have to reinstall all your other programs, re-activate XP,
download/install all updates/patches/hotfixes/etc.

If what you have is an original XP on a CD or XP w/SP1 on a CD I would
recommend you slipstream the SP2 download with the CD and burn a new XP
w/SP2 CD. Info on slipstreaming can be found using Google.

 

[Rich Barry]

If you purchased a Retail Version then Yes. If you purchased a Upgrade
Version and
still have a valid Win9x Cd then Yes. OEM, No.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

If the old system came with the xp OS already installed on it, and it had a
sticker on it (COA) with the Product Key, that key would only work for that
particular piece of hardware. If, on the other hand, you have a standard
Windows XP setup disk from MS, it will easily install on any hardware that
can run XP. If the Product Key is separate from the machine,(not
preinstalled) it works fine.

 

[Dustie]

You can install your retail version of XP on the new system with no

problems, as long as it has been deleted/removed from the old system.

how about if the old hard drive collapsed so it's not possible to actually
uninstall it?

 

[Dustie]

If the old system came with the xp OS already installed on it, and it had
a

sticker on it (COA) with the Product Key, that key would only work for that
particular piece of hardware. If, on the other hand, you have a standard
Windows XP setup disk from MS, it will easily install on any hardware that
can run XP. If the Product Key is separate from the machine,(not
preinstalled) it works fine.

it's a legitimate copy of XP Professional with an activation code. A mate
built the PC years ago in front of me and installed it from scratch.... So,
this will be ok to re-install then?

 

[JS]

As long as it's not an OEM copy of XP, yes you can re-install.
You will need the drivers for your new PC's motherboard, video, sound,
network, etc.

JS

 

[=?iso-8859-1?Q?_db_=B4=AF`=B7.._=3E=3C=29=29=29=BA]

you should be able to
install the old harddrive
in your new pc as a master
and the new drive it has can
be set as a slave.

that way you only have to
do a repair installation to
reconfigure the operating
system to your new equipment.


--

<)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

..

 

[Patrick Keenan]

how about if the old hard drive collapsed so it's not possible to actually
uninstall it?

Not relevant, though that rather means that the install is not and won't
ever be in use. The real issue is license compliance.

If you purchased a retail version of XP, you can move the install - which
does not mean multiple installs, which you aren't doing anyway - as often as
you need to. At most, you will need to phone the toll-free number to get
an activation number. It's likely that you won't have to do this, but you
just tell the person that it's a reinstall, it's only in use on one system
(if the drive is dead, this is true) and you get the number.

If you purchased an OEM version, and the disk will say something like "for
sale only with a new system", the license is tied to specific hardware.
Sometimes, the qualifying hardware is as minor as a *power cable* or mouse.


HTH
-pk

 

[Bruce Chambers]

hi all

I just got a brand new PC that I've built from scratch and want to install
my old Windows XP operating system on it so that I can scrap the old PC. A
friend has advised me though that my XP won't work on this PC as it won't
recognise the hardware and will assume I've pirated the software. This
can't be right, surely? I PAID for the software years ago so I should be
able to use it on any system I chose...

Can someone clarify if this will work or not?

cheers

Assuming a retail license (OEM licenses are not legitimately
transferable), simply remove WinXP from the computer it is currently on
and then install it on the new computer. If it's been more than 120
days since you last activated that specific Product Key, the you'll most
likely be able to activate via the Internet without problem. If it's
been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.

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

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[dustie]

xp can be reinstalled on whatever computer and activated at least 2 or 3

times before it won't pass WPA...so you should be safe to install and
activate xp on your new machine. That stuff about it needing deleted or
removed from your old system isn't anything to worry about...just
install it on your new machine and activate it and you'll be good to
go...

ah. big snag. I've just taken a closer look at the XP disc and it seems it
IS an OEM version (looks like I was conned all those years ago). Does this
mean the advice above is null and void?