Installing XP on "new" computer

[BillW]

I have an old PC with a valid copy of XP running on it. I have the original
XP cd that I purchased from Costco several years ago. My son-in-law gave me
his old computer (that is significantly better than mine). It has Vista
running on it. I will start using his computer and discard my old one. I
would like to reformat his drive and install my copy of XP on it.

My question is - if I install my copy of XP on his computer and go to the
Microsoft site to download updates, will Microsoft get upset if it sees that
my copy of XP is already "registered" under my old computer that I will no
longer be using?

I hope this makes sense. The bottom line is I want to make sure that once
my "new" computer is up and running, everything is legal and Microsoft
doesn't cause me any problems.

Thank you.

 

[JS]

Assuming you are going to do a "Clean Install" on
your newly acquired PC.

1) I would take your retail copy of XP and create a
slipstreamed version that incorporates XP SP3.

2) Then perform the install, you should have 30 days to
activate. Install all your applications on the newer PC and
validate that they work. Transfer any data from your old
PC to the newer computer.
Note: If the "Retail" copy of XP you purchased is an "Upgrade"
version then find your old Win98 or ME CD as you will need
it to complete the install process.

3) Assuming you have not activated Windows XP on
the old PC in the last 6 months the activation on the new
PC should be no problem.

4) After the newer PC has been activated and running without any problems
for at least two months, remove the drive from the old PC before you discard
it. Just make certain that you don't not use the old PC during or after
these two months.

 

[Alias]

I have an old PC with a valid copy of XP running on it. I have the original
XP cd that I purchased from Costco several years ago. My son-in-law gave me
his old computer (that is significantly better than mine). It has Vista
running on it. I will start using his computer and discard my old one. I
would like to reformat his drive and install my copy of XP on it.

My question is - if I install my copy of XP on his computer and go to the
Microsoft site to download updates, will Microsoft get upset if it sees that
my copy of XP is already "registered" under my old computer that I will no
longer be using?

I hope this makes sense. The bottom line is I want to make sure that once
my "new" computer is up and running, everything is legal and Microsoft
doesn't cause me any problems.

Thank you.

If you're copy is retail, you may move it to your son's computer with
Microsoft's blessings. If the copy is a generic OEM, you can move it if
it's been over 120 days since the last activation/hardware upgrade but
MS won't like that but would have no way to know you did it because they
don't keep activation records for longer than 120 days. You can find out
whether you have an OEM version by reading the EULA that is on the XP CD
or on the computer where you have it installed now.

Alias

 

[Alias]

4) After the newer PC has been activated and running without any problems
for at least two months, remove the drive from the old PC before you discard
it. Just make certain that you don't not use the old PC during or after
these two months.

Huh? Please explain.

Alias

 

[JS]

The old drive is his ultimate form of backup
should a problem crop up on the PC his
son-in-law gave him. Since I don't know how
often he uses the PC two months may be far too
long or for a weekend only user that only about
8 or 9 times the new PC is used.

I'm assuming (could be bad assumption) that since
he purchased XP at Costco it's a retail version and
not OEM.

As long as the old drive is removed from the old PC
and not used to boot Windows there should no problem
with WGA on the newer PC.

 

[Bill W]

Thank you very much for your help. It appears that I shouldn't have any
problem. My copy of XP is a retail version and I have external drives that
I can use to transfer data from old to new PCs. Thank you again. You were
very helpful.

 

[JS]

You're welcome.

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com

Thank you very much for your help. It appears that I shouldn't have any
problem. My copy of XP is a retail version and I have external drives
that I can use to transfer data from old to new PCs. Thank you again.
You were very helpful.