Installing Windows Xp on multiple computers in your home

[John Edwards]

I have 3 computers in my home. I have my own personal
computer in my bedroom. My daughter has her own personal
computer in her bedroom. I have another computer
available in our living room for our guest to use. I
purchase Windows XP Home Edition. It require me to
activate it online. I build and repair my own
computers. I want to upgrade the operating systems on
the other two computer in my home to Windows XP Home
Edition. I should not have to buy a different Operating
System Disk for each computer. Their are also occasions
that I might have to uninstall the operating system and
reinstall the system. Does this also cause a problem when
I need to reactivate the operating system to keep it
working after 31 days on the computer that it was
activated on before. The main question is their should be
some sort of way that people that have more than one
computer in their home could use the one Operating System
Disk that they purchase on all their computers.

 

[Rod]

It has always been one license for one computer.

 

[Mike Kolitz]

Comments inline.

I have 3 computers in my home. I have my own personal
computer in my bedroom. My daughter has her own personal
computer in her bedroom. I have another computer
available in our living room for our guest to use. I
purchase Windows XP Home Edition. It require me to
activate it online.

That is correct - Activation is required.

I build and repair my own
computers. I want to upgrade the operating systems on
the other two computer in my home to Windows XP Home
Edition. I should not have to buy a different Operating
System Disk for each computer.

You don't have to buy a new CD for each computer - you need a separate
license and keycode for each computer, though. You can purchase additional
licenses here:
http://shop.microsoft.com/Referral/Productinfo.asp?siteID=11052

Their are also occasions
that I might have to uninstall the operating system and
reinstall the system. Does this also cause a problem when
I need to reactivate the operating system to keep it
working after 31 days on the computer that it was
activated on before.

No. You can reinstall Windows as many times as you want to on the same
hardware. If for some reason online activation fails, call the number
Windows provides you with. Worst case scenario is a 5 minute phone call to
get Windows reactivated.

The main question is their should be
some sort of way that people that have more than one
computer in their home could use the one Operating System
Disk that they purchase on all their computers.

There is. As I said, you can use the same CD (as long as it's a retail
CD)... you just need to buy more licenses. Use the link above to purchase
extra licenses.

Incidentally - it has ALWAYS been the case you were required to own a
separate license for every computer on which you installed Windows. If you
had not been doing that previously, you had been violating the EULA that you
agreed to during installation.

--
Mike Kolitz MCSE 2000
MS-MVP - Windows Setup and Deployment


news:[email protected]...

 

[Michael Stevens]

I have 3 computers in my home. I have my own personal
computer in my bedroom. My daughter has her own personal
computer in her bedroom. I have another computer
available in our living room for our guest to use. I
purchase Windows XP Home Edition. It require me to
activate it online. I build and repair my own
computers. I want to upgrade the operating systems on
the other two computer in my home to Windows XP Home
Edition. I should not have to buy a different Operating
System Disk for each computer. Their are also occasions
that I might have to uninstall the operating system and
reinstall the system. Does this also cause a problem when
I need to reactivate the operating system to keep it
working after 31 days on the computer that it was
activated on before. The main question is their should be
some sort of way that people that have more than one
computer in their home could use the one Operating System
Disk that they purchase on all their computers.

From the EULA, it is for one computer per license. You can do a quick search
of the newsgroups for more information on XP licensing, as it is asked at
least 4 times an hour.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[RB]

I can share my drivers license. I have 2 cars, but only need one drivers
license.
Car dealerships have one license plate and can use it on any car.
If I have a buy-one-get-one-free coupon, I only pay for one meal when I
go out.
I only want to get hosed out of $300 once for an operating system too.
Not like I can choose what it comes with when I buy it. It came with
Home edition, why should I have to pay $300 for a pro version??
Rat basturds.
Does Bill Gates really need $300 more? If it was realisticly prced,
since you can not put it on a second machine, it should be around
$50-$75 for the Pro version. Since everyone will eventually have to
switch anyway with all the crap not being compatable with 98/me. Gee,
wouldn't he make more money then?
Oh well, Off to find a crack/patch/hack for it.
Laters

 

[Nicholas]

Read your Windows XP End-User License Agreement:

Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter.

It clearly states that you may only install one copy
of Windows XP on just one computer. You will
need a new license (Product Key) for each new
installation on a different computer.

End of discussion.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

What planet are you from? Does your local grocer let you walk out
of the market with two loaves of bread when you've paid for only one?
Can you drive two cars home if you've paid for only one? Does your
local clothier allow you to leave the shop with two shirts if you've
purchased only one? Have you noticed a trend, yet? Where in the
world did you ever get the absurd idea that software manufacturers
would sell their products any differently?

As it has *always* been with *all* Microsoft operating systems,
it's necessary (to be in compliance with both the EULA and copyright
laws, if not technically) to purchase one WinXP license for each
computer on which it is installed. The only way in which WinXP
licensing differs from that of earlier versions of Windows is that
Microsoft has finally added a copy protection and anti-theft
mechanism, Product Activation, to prevent (or at least make more
difficult) the sort of multiple installations you're asking about.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[RB]

Ya, a lot of times they have buy 1 get 1 free on strawberrys., chips and
icecream.
My point is, they damn XP Pro is overpriced. It is worth about $50-$75.
Not $300!
Now I can see why the government tries to get microsoft on monoplizing
charges. Programs and equipment are pretty much all made for windows
only. They need to readjust the price and people wouldn't spend all day
trying to hack software.

Amd it is also bull shit that you can't reformat your system. I format
about once a year to get rid of all the leftover crap from demo games,
demo software and other crap I use on my bood drive that clogs it up.
With stupid XP Pro, I can not reformat using the same damn computer,
same user as it was purchased for. They need to figure out a way to see
that it is the same damn machine that was just reformatted. Maybe they
should let you reactivate it every 6 months woth the same key or
somehting. That way, even if I was "stealing" their software and using
it on a second machine, it would be 6 months before I could do it, not 3
hours or 3 days later.

They need to fix that crap. Also they should keep selling older
versions. Where the hell is anyone supposed to get a New disc of Windows
98?? They don't leave you a choice but to use one you already have.
Same with Adobe and other softeware companies. They should have Win 98se
on the shelves for $39 and people would be able to buy one for each, but
to force me to uprade is BS. How can I buy a new copy of Pagemaker 6.5
from Adobe? they don't sell it anymore. Same with Illustraor 8. You
can't place Illustrator 9 or 10 files in Pagemaker 6.5 or even the new
7.0. So why should I be forced to buy a new version? they should keep
selling the old ones at a reduced rate. ilustrator 8.0 is the best only
one you can use with Pagemaker. The stupid program isn't updated enough
to place its own sister software files.

Point is, sell the old versions for what they are worth.
I do pay for my software when is available. But when thenew versions
are all that uis available and the old versions are the only ones
compatable, what are you supposed to do???

 

[Splendid]

Too Expensive

Wow those comparisons are idiotic. When you buy a loaf of bread at the store, do you have to buy separate licenses for each slice you share with your friends? When you buy a car, do you charge your friends 20 grand for a ride? And last time i checked, a loaf of bread didnt cost $200. I agree that there should be a limit, but if ur installing xp to machines on the same network, u should definitely be able to install on at least 2 different computers for no additional charge.