How do I deactivate an installation of Windows XP?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brad
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B

Brad

I bought Windows XP for a computer that I built. The
computer then died. I would like to install it on another
computer, but it's already activated on the one that is
dead.

How do I go about deactivating the dead installation so
that I can legally install it on the other computer?

Brad
 
Brad;
There is no deactivation.
Simply install on new computer and activate over the internet.
If that fails choose the option to activate by phone.
Call the displayed phone number, done in about 5 minutes.

If Windows XP is OEM, this may not be possible.
 
I'm not aware that you can do this. This is a rare but
perfect example of why some are upset over the activation
of XP. You could spend $300 on something that gets trashed
a day later. You don't "own" XP. The original machine it's
activated to does.
Luckily, there are reasonable representatives at MS who
will listen to your story and may be able to see the dates
of your activation and see that you indeed activated only
a few days previous, but that would require getting in
touch with a MS rep over the phone. And you'd have to be a
smooth talker.
 
Jeff;
Yes you can, many do it legally all the time.
No need to be a "smooth talker", just a need to be an honest user and
tell the truth.
As long as Windows XP is retail, worst case is a 5 minute call to
Microsoft.

If someone has spent $300, they better have bought Windows XP Pro
retail.
Retail has this flexibility, one of the many reasons retail costs more
than OEM

You should read your EULA.
 
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