License question

[Dan]

Hi all!
I have a laptop with Windows XP Home Edition preinstalled, in Italian, and
another Windows XP Home license (in English) that I use on my desktop.
Now I need to reinstall the OS on my laptop, but the recovery CD that
accompanies the laptop cannot do a fresh install.
My question is: is it legal to install Windows from the other CD (in
English) and use the serial number from the Italian version? I don't even
know if the serial numbers are compatible.

Thank you,
Dan

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Dan,

Nope, probably wouldn't work even if it did. The laptop likely would require
a specific driver set to function properly.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

No, you cannot interchange Product Keys with different
language versions of Windows XP. Consult your laptop
User's Guide for information on how to use the Recovery
CD properly. Most will automatically reformat the
drive before reinstalling the operating system.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Hi all!
| I have a laptop with Windows XP Home Edition preinstalled, in Italian, and
| another Windows XP Home license (in English) that I use on my desktop.
| Now I need to reinstall the OS on my laptop, but the recovery CD that
| accompanies the laptop cannot do a fresh install.
| My question is: is it legal to install Windows from the other CD (in
| English) and use the serial number from the Italian version? I don't even
| know if the serial numbers are compatible.
|
| Thank you,
| Dan
|
|

 

[Guest]

I would, don't know if the keys will be interchangeable,
even if the versions are the same. If it's been over 120
days you can use the key for the other one. You will have
some issues with the laptop in that there may be drivers
and programs like the touch pad that XP will not have.

and there is nothing "Legal" in this whole issue.

 

[Dan]

No, you cannot interchange Product Keys with different
language versions of Windows XP. Consult your laptop
User's Guide for information on how to use the Recovery
CD properly. Most will automatically reformat the
drive before reinstalling the operating system.

Thank you.
Unfortunatelly, my CD gives me a strange message at boot (something about
the system being in a different language, even if it's the same Italian
Windows XP installed). The only way I was able to reinstall Windows was to
use a Microsoft program that creates 6 floppy disks. Then the installation
from the CD worked fine. But my laptop has no internal floppy drive, and I
don't have the external drive anymore.
Another question now: is it legal for the manufacturer of the laptop to sell
the OS without the possibility to reinstall it? I suppose there is a
standard contract between Microsoft and companies that offer preinstalled
Windows on their laptops.

Thank you again,
Dan

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

My understanding is that the OEM is required to provide "some method" of
restoring the device to as shipped from the factory (not necessarily a
reinstall - it may be a destructive reimage from a hidden partition or via
an option on the boot (prior to OS start up) )
Either way if you are having nay problems using the supplied
recovery/restore media etc then you should contact the OEM for support,

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Legalities aside, it's not technically possible.

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of
CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are
purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for
any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and
vice versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full
version CD, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to
install a retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with
an English CD. Product Keys and CDs cannot be mixed & matched.


Bruce Chambers

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