Can I use XP on a different PC?

[Guest]

Last year we received a donated Diamond Multimedia PC. After I set it
up I checked Bekarc Advisor and found an AMD 400MHz K6 III with 128 MB
of RAM and a BIOS date of 03/12/99. Then I realized that it was
running Windows XP Professional in that amount of RAM. I was
astonished that XP Pro actually would run in this setup. I quickly
tripled the memory.

Only three of our (all donated) PC's run XP and I am trying to increase
that number, without paying M$ for another copy.

So, one of our WIN XP copies is running in our slowest PC, one that is
a candidate for replacement when a better PC is donated. Another of
our PC's has a 1.0 GHz Pentium III. It deserves a better version of
Windows than Win ME, which it runs now.

Belarc Advisor shows the following item in its list of software
licenses:

Microsoft - Windows XP Professional
55274-640-0000356-23566
(Key:FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8)

Since this PC was manufactured before XP was released and isn't
identified as an OEM license, it seems to me that it probably is a
retail version.

I understand that because XP installations are tied to specific hardware, I
cannot transfer the hard drive with XP Pro on it to the other PC (as I
would like to do) and expect it to run. Assuming that this is a retail
license, is there any way I could get Microsoft to let me reregister it
for use on the other PC?

 

[Larry Samuels]

That is a "devil's own" bootleg vl copy. You can't even legally use it on
the pc it is on.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[Roberto]

Last year we received a donated Diamond Multimedia PC. After I set it
up I checked Bekarc Advisor and found an AMD 400MHz K6 III with 128 MB
of RAM and a BIOS date of 03/12/99. Then I realized that it was
running Windows XP Professional in that amount of RAM. I was
astonished that XP Pro actually would run in this setup. I quickly
tripled the memory.

Only three of our (all donated) PC's run XP and I am trying to increase
that number, without paying M$ for another copy.

So, one of our WIN XP copies is running in our slowest PC, one that is
a candidate for replacement when a better PC is donated. Another of
our PC's has a 1.0 GHz Pentium III. It deserves a better version of
Windows than Win ME, which it runs now.

Belarc Advisor shows the following item in its list of software
licenses:

Microsoft - Windows XP Professional
55274-640-0000356-23566
(Key:FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8)

Since this PC was manufactured before XP was released and isn't
identified as an OEM license, it seems to me that it probably is a
retail version.

I understand that because XP installations are tied to specific hardware,
I
cannot transfer the hard drive with XP Pro on it to the other PC (as I
would like to do) and expect it to run. Assuming that this is a retail
license, is there any way I could get Microsoft to let me reregister it
for use on the other PC?

You want to read this article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FCKGW

rgds
Roberto

 

[Malke]

Last year we received a donated Diamond Multimedia PC. After I set it
up I checked Bekarc Advisor and found an AMD 400MHz K6 III with 128 MB
of RAM and a BIOS date of 03/12/99. Then I realized that it was
running Windows XP Professional in that amount of RAM. I was
astonished that XP Pro actually would run in this setup. I quickly
tripled the memory.

Only three of our (all donated) PC's run XP and I am trying to
increase that number, without paying M$ for another copy.

So, one of our WIN XP copies is running in our slowest PC, one that is
a candidate for replacement when a better PC is donated. Another of
our PC's has a 1.0 GHz Pentium III. It deserves a better version of
Windows than Win ME, which it runs now.

Belarc Advisor shows the following item in its list of software
licenses:

Microsoft - Windows XP Professional
55274-640-0000356-23566
(Key:FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8)

Since this PC was manufactured before XP was released and isn't
identified as an OEM license, it seems to me that it probably is a
retail version.

I understand that because XP installations are tied to specific
hardware, I cannot transfer the hard drive with XP Pro on it to the
other PC (as I
would like to do) and expect it to run. Assuming that this is a
retail license, is there any way I could get Microsoft to let me
reregister it for use on the other PC?

Actually, the key you mentioned above is a variant of one of the oldest
and best-known pirated keys. You do not have legal software. If you
want to use a Microsoft operating system, you will need to purchase
one. Otherwise, use another operating system like Linux.

Malke

 

[Nepatsfan]

(e-mail address removed),
Sleepless in New Jersey

Last year we received a donated Diamond Multimedia PC.
After I set it
up I checked Bekarc Advisor and found an AMD 400MHz K6 III
with 128 MB
of RAM and a BIOS date of 03/12/99. Then I realized that it
was
running Windows XP Professional in that amount of RAM. I was
astonished that XP Pro actually would run in this setup. I
quickly tripled the memory.

Only three of our (all donated) PC's run XP and I am trying
to increase that number, without paying M$ for another copy.

So, one of our WIN XP copies is running in our slowest PC,
one that is
a candidate for replacement when a better PC is donated.
Another of
our PC's has a 1.0 GHz Pentium III. It deserves a better
version of Windows than Win ME, which it runs now.

Belarc Advisor shows the following item in its list of
software
licenses:

Microsoft - Windows XP Professional
55274-640-0000356-23566
(Key:FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8)

Since this PC was manufactured before XP was released and
isn't
identified as an OEM license, it seems to me that it
probably is a
retail version.

I understand that because XP installations are tied to
specific hardware, I cannot transfer the hard drive with XP
Pro on it to the other PC (as I would like to do) and expect
it to run. Assuming that this is a retail license, is there
any way I could get Microsoft to let me reregister it for
use on the other PC?

In addition to the bad news you've already received here's a
suggestion, don't post any other installation keys you may have
on the internet. While this one may be bogus, some of your keys
are probably legitimate.

Also, instead of relying on Belarc, look for a sticker attached
to the side of each PC. Go here to tell whether you're
installation is legitimate:

Is your copy of Windows genuine?
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/windows/default.mspx

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Guest]

Thank you all for your responses. I'll use Delpart and install Windows ME
today.