Installing XP on one computer and then switching to another

[SDUSER]

I just purchased a Windows XP Home edition. I have an older clunky computer
which is internet ready and newer better computer which is not. The IDE
slots on the newer computer are too close to the hard drive enclosure to
install the modem from the older computer so I need to buy a PCI network
interface card. Anyway - I was hoping to install XP on the older computer
until I get the newer computer internet ready and then install XP on the
newer one. Is that possible to do that or does Microsoft prevent that from
happening.

 

[VVIJA]

you r right. microsoft allows installing xp on one system at a time.
but for the time being you can install it on your old computer and wen u
plan to install on the new computer, make sure u remove it from old computer
otherwise u wont b able to activate windows on ur new computer.

 

[SDUSER]

How would they know if I uninstalled XP from the old computer?

 

[Don Williams]

How would they know if I uninstalled XP from the old computer?

Activation is done on line and that allows Microsoft to collect specific
identification information about your OS key and your computer. It then
turns off the nag message about activation. (You can also activate by
phone, not sure what they do about that)

Anyhow, if you move the software to another machine, or simply make major
changes to your own machine, Windows will become very unhappy and you will
have to convince someone, by phone, that you just added a couple of hard
drives, or made some other major change to your system. They will then give
you another key to re-activate your OS.

DAW

 

[VVIJA]

whenever you activate windows all your computer information is recorded on
microsoft server so if you will try toactivate it again you will be caught.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I just purchased a Windows XP Home edition. I have an older clunky computer
which is internet ready and newer better computer which is not. The IDE
slots on the newer computer are too close to the hard drive enclosure to
install the modem from the older computer so I need to buy a PCI network
interface card. Anyway - I was hoping to install XP on the older computer
until I get the newer computer internet ready and then install XP on the
newer one. Is that possible to do that or does Microsoft prevent that from
happening.

The answer is that it depends.

Did you buy an OEM version or a retail version? If it's a retail
version, there's no problem. You may freely move it from computer to
computer as long as it's not installed on two computers at once.

But if it's an OEM version, its license ties it permanently to the
first computer it's installed on. It can never legally be moved to
another computer, sold, or given away. That's the single biggest
disadvantage of an OEM version, and the reason I almost always
recommend against buying them.

 

[SDUSER]

Thanks for your response. It is a retail version. I just installed it today
on the older computer. I haven't registered it yet. I just figured out how
to get the network card to seat in the newer computer. What I thought was a
hard drive enclosure for a second hard drive on the newer computer was
actually an enclosure for expansion slots for network cards. If I get a
network card that works on the newer computer and simply uninstall Windows XP

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks for your response.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

It is a retail version.

Good, then you're free to move it as often as you like.

I just installed it today
on the older computer. I haven't registered it yet.

Registration is completely optional and has no value to you; it's
strictly for Microsoft's marketing purposes. You probably mean that
you haven't *activated* it yet.

I just figured out how
to get the network card to seat in the newer computer. What I thought was a
hard drive enclosure for a second hard drive on the newer computer was
actually an enclosure for expansion slots for network cards.

That statement confuses me, and I'm not sure what you're describing,
but it shouldn't make any difference.

If I get a
network card that works on the newer computer and simply uninstall Windows XP
on the older computer can I install it on the newer computer without going
through any other hoops?

Yes. As I said, as long as it's a retail version you can move it from
computer to computer to computer as often as you need or want to.

Worst case, if you try to activate it on a new computer and it's been
fewer than 120 days since the last activation, internet activation
won't work, and you'll be prompted to do it by a quick and easy voice
call to an 800 number. But that should be no problem.

And in your case, since you haven't activated it at all yet, and
you'll move it before activation, it should activate over the internet
without a problem.