Can I Install My Win XP on Another Machine?

[Don]

I'm not sure if this is the most appropriate place to post this
question, but I don't know where else I should post it. I have a
licensed copy of Win XP Pro running on a machine that's almost 6 years
old. I want to run it on a much newer machine and remove it from the
machine it is running on now. Hence, I will still only be running one
instance of that licensed operating system.

Are there any rules, procedures I have to follow in order to make the
transfer? Do I have to contact Microsoft in order to activate the
Windows XP on the new machine? Just wondering how much bureaucratic
haste it will be. I suspect that uncle Bill really wants us to buy a
new copy of Windows for each machine we install it on.

Thanks for your assistance in advance,

Don

 

[Dave B.]

Where did it come from? Did it come with the old PC or did your purchase it
from somewhere? If it came with the old PC it is likely OEM and cannot be
transferred to another PC, If it is a retail copy you can do what you want.
Also, search the groups a bit before posting, this question is asked on
almost a daily basis.

 

[Joan Archer]

If this is a retail copy of XP you would just have to uninstall it from
the old machine and install it on the new one and activate via the
internet. If the copy came installed on the old machine then it is
probably tied to that machine and cannot be transferred.
I'm sure one of the experts will come along and give you the full details
in a while.
Joan

 

[Don]

It's a retail version. Thanks.

If this is a retail copy of XP you would just have to uninstall it from
the old machine and install it on the new one and activate via the
internet. If the copy came installed on the old machine then it is
probably tied to that machine and cannot be transferred.
I'm sure one of the experts will come along and give you the full details
in a while.
Joan

 

[Rock]

Since it's a retail copy, just uninstall from the old machine and install on
the new. Activation should go through on the internet. If not you'll need
to make a phone call to activate it.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

It's a retail version. Thanks.

Good. Then you can transfer it to another machine as often as you want to.

But just one other point. Joan points out below that versions that come
pre-installed are OEM versions, and are not transferable. But note that
there are also generic OEM versions that are sold in retail channels. These
are subject to the same non-transferability rule. Because these generic OEM
versions are sometimes confused with Retail ones, you should make sure that
yours is a retail version, and not such a generic OEM one.

 

[Don]

It is a retail version I bought at Staples almost five years ago now.

Don

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

It is a retail version I bought at Staples almost five years ago now.

Once again, good. I just wanted to warn you of the possible confusion
because such confusion is common.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I'm not sure if this is the most appropriate place to post this
question, but I don't know where else I should post it. I have a
licensed copy of Win XP Pro running on a machine that's almost 6 years
old. I want to run it on a much newer machine and remove it from the
machine it is running on now. Hence, I will still only be running one
instance of that licensed operating system.

Are there any rules, procedures I have to follow in order to make the
transfer? Do I have to contact Microsoft in order to activate the
Windows XP on the new machine? Just wondering how much bureaucratic
haste it will be. I suspect that uncle Bill really wants us to buy a
new copy of Windows for each machine we install it on.

Thanks for your assistance in advance,

Don

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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