License question

[Guest]

My husband likes to use Linux on his computer and I prefer Windows XP.

For various reasons, I am now taking over his pc which has run only linux
and I have bought him a laptop as payment for his pc if you see what I mean.

The laptop has come with an XP license but he does not want to use it and
will load linux or whatever he uses instead. I don't really understand about
linux.

Anyway I then want to use the license that came with the laptop to move his
pc to windows xp.

Is this permissable, or is the XP license attached to the PCs bios in some
way.

Would be very grateful to know - we're not sure about altering the pc in a
kind of wait and see manner.

Sarah

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

The license that came with the laptop is an OEM version, they are not
transferable to different hardware, regardless of whether or not he chooses
to use it. You will need a separate retail version of WinXP for the system
you are taking over.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Jim Macklin]

The license for Windows, as sold with a new computer is
called OEM and it is for use only on that particular
machine.

You need to have a full retail version to be able to migrate
Windows from machine to machine [one at a time only].

What you can do is dual boot Windows XP and Linux. Your
husband should not delete XP from the new laptop, he should
just install his preferred distro of Linux.

If the old desktop you're getting had Windows (any version)
installed when it was purchased, you can buy a retail XP
upgrade and install XP. You can then even install Linux
again in a dual boot if that floats everybody's boat.

see
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306559

Google for "dual boot windows xp linux"
--
Merry Christmas
Have a Safe and Happy New Year
Live Long and Prosper
Jim Macklin
| My husband likes to use Linux on his computer and I prefer
Windows XP.
|
| For various reasons, I am now taking over his pc which has
run only linux
| and I have bought him a laptop as payment for his pc if
you see what I mean.
|
| The laptop has come with an XP license but he does not
want to use it and
| will load linux or whatever he uses instead. I don't
really understand about
| linux.
|
| Anyway I then want to use the license that came with the
laptop to move his
| pc to windows xp.
|
| Is this permissable, or is the XP license attached to the
PCs bios in some
| way.
|
| Would be very grateful to know - we're not sure about
altering the pc in a
| kind of wait and see manner.
|
| Sarah

 

[Guest]

Is this the same as the OEM versions they sell on ebay? Are they illegal?

Cheers
Sarah

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My husband likes to use Linux on his computer and I prefer Windows XP.

For various reasons, I am now taking over his pc which has run only linux
and I have bought him a laptop as payment for his pc if you see what I mean.

The laptop has come with an XP license but he does not want to use it and
will load linux or whatever he uses instead. I don't really understand about
linux.

Anyway I then want to use the license that came with the laptop to move his
pc to windows xp.

Is this permissable, or is the XP license attached to the PCs bios in some
way.

Would be very grateful to know - we're not sure about altering the pc in a
kind of wait and see manner.

Sarah

An OEM version must be sold with a piece of hardware (normally a
motherboard or hard rive, if not an entire PC) and is _permanently_
bound to the first PC on which it's installed. An OEM license, once
installed, is not legally transferable to another computer under _any_
circumstances.

--

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Is this the same as the OEM versions they sell on ebay? Are they illegal?

Cheers
Sarah

Sadly, t odds aren they're not. Are they generic, unbranded OEM CDs?
Do they come with a non-peripheral piece of hardware? Be very careful
buying any software on eBay, as eBay makes no prior effort to ensure
that such sales are legitimate; they react only when someone files a
complaint.

--

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

 

[Guest]

Check the PC you are taking over for a Microsoft Genuine Sticker. It should
be somewhere on the case if the PC ever had Windows on it. You SHOULD be
able to install the version of Windows listed on the Sticker onto your PC.
You will need to get one of those OEM CD's for that OS. No, those are not
illegal as long as they come with some piece of hardware. You shouldn't need
to buy a CD with Key, as the CD Key is on the Sticker. Now, when you run the
install of Windows, when you are promped for a key, enter the one on the
sticker. This SHOULD work, allowing you to have a copy of Windows.

BMR777

 

[Raymond J. Johnson Jr.]

| stour wrote:
| > Is this the same as the OEM versions they sell on ebay? Are they
illegal?
| >
| > Cheers
| > Sarah
| >
|
|
|
| Sadly, t odds aren they're not. Are they generic, unbranded OEM CDs?
| Do they come with a non-peripheral piece of hardware? Be very careful
| buying any software on eBay, as eBay makes no prior effort to ensure
| that such sales are legitimate; they react only when someone files a
| complaint.
|
| --
|
| 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

What do you mean, "sadly"? If the owner of the rights is OK with it, why
aren't you?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Sadly, t odds aren they're not.

Oops! That should have read "Sadly, the odds are they are" (illegal,
that is.)

--

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

 

[Yves Leclerc]

We do not "own" Windows XP. We are "licenced" to use XP on one PC (or
more,depending on the license).

 

[Raymond J. Johnson Jr.]

| We do not "own" Windows XP. We are "licenced" to use XP on one PC (or
| more,depending on the license).
|
|
|
Maybe you should read before responding. First, Bruce already indicated that
his original response included a typo that made it mean something he didn't
intend. Next, I was referring to *Microsoft* as the owner of the rights, not
the user,.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

OEM versions are legal, but are limited in that they are permanently tied to
the system - either they come preinstalled, or are self-installed and
activated. An OEM full version available on ebay or some such is a hazardous
buy at best, as they may have already been activted elsewhere. Purchase
either a retail disk or generic OEM disk from a reliable software vendor to
save yourself the headaches.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Alex Nichol]

My husband likes to use Linux on his computer and I prefer Windows XP.

For various reasons, I am now taking over his pc which has run only linux
and I have bought him a laptop as payment for his pc if you see what I mean.

The laptop has come with an XP license but he does not want to use it and
will load linux or whatever he uses instead. I don't really understand about
linux.

Anyway I then want to use the license that came with the laptop to move his
pc to windows xp.

Is this permissable, or is the XP license attached to the PCs bios in some
way.

A license that comes with a machine (like that laptop) is solely to that
machine and may not be transferred. If his machine that you took over
had Windows on it at one time you can reinstall that copy using the key
that came with it (hoping he did not throw it away), if not you will
have to get a new copy