Moving xp home to a different computer

[Guest]

I have a Dell PC that came with xp Home installed. I also have the
reinstallation CD that came with the computer. Am I permitted to deactivate
xp in the original computer and use the disk to install xp in a new computer?
If so, how do I do this? Thanks.

 

[peter]

Your going to get lots of opinions
Dell OEM XP software is usually tied to their systems only.
If the disc you have is an OEM version of XP it might or might not work on a
Different system.
If you have what is described as a "recovery" CD from Dell it will not work
on anything but that Dell.
Even store bought OEM versions of XP are only supposed to be installed on
one machine...ever...but they will install.run and Activate on a 2nd system
providing you uninstall from the 1st system....its almost legal...and I
doubt if the MS Pirate Police will come knocking on your door.
peter

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

A Dell OEM Product Key and reinstallation CD cannot be used on any other
computer. It's licensed is forever tied to the Dell computer it shipped with.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

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

:

| I have a Dell PC that came with xp Home installed. I also have the
| reinstallation CD that came with the computer. Am I permitted to deactivate
| xp in the original computer and use the disk to install xp in a new computer?
| If so, how do I do this? Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Dell OEM CDs froma few years back (before they started the AOL/Norton
nonsense) were pretty-much standard fare, and are fine for a generic install.
You'd need a new licence key though, as OEM keys only apply to the computer
they were bought with.

Technically it would probably install OK with the old key but you wouldn't
be able to activate it. (You can of course change the key at activation time,
but it HAS to be an OEM key if you use the OEM disc. )

 

[Guest]

Ian,

Thanks for your post. I'm pretty ignorant about this stuff...what is a
license key and how do I get a new one for this?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a Dell PC that came with xp Home installed. I also have the
reinstallation CD that came with the computer. Am I permitted to
deactivate xp in the original computer and use the disk to install
xp in a new computer? If so, how do I do this? Thanks.

A Dell OEM Product Key and reinstallation CD cannot be used on any
other computer. It's licensed is forever tied to the Dell computer
it shipped with.

Your going to get lots of opinions
Dell OEM XP software is usually tied to their systems only.
If the disc you have is an OEM version of XP it might or might not
work on a Different system.
If you have what is described as a "recovery" CD from Dell it will
not work on anything but that Dell.
Even store bought OEM versions of XP are only supposed to be
installed on one machine...ever...but they will install.run and
Activate on a 2nd system providing you uninstall from the 1st
system....its almost legal...and I doubt if the MS Pirate Police
will come knocking on your door.

Dell OEM CDs froma few years back (before they started the
AOL/Norton nonsense) were pretty-much standard fare, and are fine
for a generic install. You'd need a new licence key though, as
OEM keys only apply to the computer they were bought with.

Technically it would probably install OK with the old key but you
wouldn't be able to activate it. (You can of course change the key
at activation time, but it HAS to be an OEM key if you use the OEM
disc. )

Thanks for your post. I'm pretty ignorant about this stuff...what
is a license key and how do I get a new one for this?

trachshack,

Here is the deal - explained in full.

You bought a Dell (undetermined number of) years back.
It came with Windows XP Home Edition installed and a reinstallation CD.
Beautiful... and ugly.

Beautiful because you got a REAL Windows XP Home installation CD.
Ugly because it is an OEM and in strict accordance with the EULA (End-User
License Agreement) that you 'agreed to' every time you utilized the
machine - that copy of Windows XP Home Edition is forever tied to that
machine. Doesn't matter that you have that nice shiny CD in your hand and
that pretty sticker on the outside of the box you can easily take a picture
of and store elsewhere. If that machine melts to slag in a fire and all you
have is that picture and that CD - you might as well throw those back in the
fire because the EULA says they are worthless.

What you have gotten here is advice telling you that you could probably use
that CD to install on another system with the CD Key on the sticker and
likely have no trouble. It is possible this is true. You are mainly
breaking the EULA, not a technical boundary there. It could be true that
the CD/License Key is BIOS-Locked - meaning that CD/CD-Key will only work on
a Dell System. In which case it is more difficult for you to break that
bond. You've also been told you might be able to get another license
(CD-Key) for the CD you have. Even if that was true (it is not) - you
wouldn't be saving much money in doing so. Why don't you qualify? You have
an OEM license:
http://www.microsoft.com/products/info/editorial/22/promotions/wal/#qualify

So - what are your choices in order to stay completely off everyone's radar?

1) Purchase an OEM copy of Windows XP *(whatever version you want) from your
favorite offline/online store.
- Disadvantages of an OEM have been demonstrated above - to add another -
it can only perform a clean install.

2) Purchase a Retail copy of Windows XP *(whatever version you want) from
your favorite offline/online store.
- More expensive than OEM, loses most of the disadvantages of OEM.

Where can you buy?
http://www.pricewatch.com/m-182.htm

Stick with big-name vendors (NewEgg, Buy.com, Amazon.com, etc) and you are
less likely to get screwed.
You can also go down to your local computer/general store and purchase a
copy.

 

[Guest]

Ebuyer have OEM Windows here for a very reasonable price. Might depend wher
ein the world you are, I guess.

And no, the 'real' Dell CDs aren't bios-locked, I've used them as
toolkit-CDs many times, rather than risk losing my costly MS discs onsite.

 

[Guest]

To be a little technical.. I believe the Magnuson-Moss Act of 1975 keeps the
software legal. What if you own a Dell and it crashes in a month? Dell
refuses to fix it under warranty, thier service is snotty and you decide to
replace the Dell with a computer you decide to buy? You technically
purchased the software so you have a right to use it as long as it is on 1
computer. I have never seen anything on the Microsoft site that prevents
MOVING the OS to another system. Micrisoft Piracy is all about COPYING the
program illegally or putting on a 2nd machine.

Jeff

 

[Shenan Stanley]

To be a little technical.. I believe the Magnuson-Moss Act of 1975
keeps the software legal. What if you own a Dell and it crashes in
a month? Dell refuses to fix it under warranty, thier service is
snotty and you decide to replace the Dell with a computer you
decide to buy? You technically purchased the software so you have
a right to use it as long as it is on 1 computer. I have never
seen anything on the Microsoft site that prevents MOVING the OS to
another system. Micrisoft Piracy is all about COPYING the program
illegally or putting on a 2nd machine.

Not discussing the legalities... But agreements only...

The End-User Licensing Agreement (agreed to from the first use of the
computer) (EULA) that comes with the Operating System installed on the Dell
from the factory prohibits the transfer of said software/license to another
computer system.

Good read on the difference between OEM and Retail...
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1041003818

Example of "cannot transfer to another PC" implication on Microsoft's web
page:
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/licensing/introduction/hometools/default.mspx

"Q. Can I transfer my OEM Windows XP software to my new PC?
A. No. OEM software is tied to the PC that it is installed on."