OS License

[Ricky]

Is it legal to use a single copy of Windows XP and
install on a desktop and a laptop that is for my
exclusive use .. as it is with Microsoft Office ??

 

[Gary Davis]

Its the same as every other version of the Windows OS.
NO you can NOT run it on both machines without purchasing a separate license
for each machine.

 

[Steve C. Ray]

No, its not. It has always been one license-one computer for Microsoft
Operating Systems, unlike Office, which, as you know, can be installed on
your desktop and laptop machines.

 

[Why]

It's also illegal to take a bite of another person's hamburger in some
state...but is it really enforced? I know people that had both a desktop and
a laptop and used the same windows 98 cd on both. The computers were for
their personal use, and nobody ever came for them.

 

[Chris Lanier]

Why? Why? Why do you think Microsoft will now have product activation on
most things?

 

[Why]

Don't know...will you tell me?

Why? Why? Why do you think Microsoft will now have product activation on
most things?

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Is it legal to use a single copy of Windows XP and
install on a desktop and a laptop that is for my
exclusive use .. as it is with Microsoft Office ??

No. The rule is quite clear. It's one copy (or one license) for
each computer.

There's nothing new here. This is exactly the same rule that's
been in effect on every version of Windows starting with Windows
3.1. The only thing new with XP is that there's now an
enforcement mechanism.

 

[Why]

Ok...what happens if you bought XP for one system...put it on that system,
then decided to put it on another system because first system no longer
worked...or you wanted more harddrive, or whatever reason? Legally, do you
have to purchase another XP disk?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.

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

 

[cimex]

Not for the full version of XP. You can reactivate it on as many computers
(sequentially) as you wish. Try to run one copy of XP on two different
computers, and, after 30 days, the second computer's OS will "expire." Much
to your chagrin, in most cases.

Ok...what happens if you bought XP for one system...put it on that system,
then decided to put it on another system because first system no longer
worked...or you wanted more harddrive, or whatever reason? Legally, do you
have to purchase another XP disk?

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Ok...what happens if you bought XP for one system...put it on that
system, then decided to put it on another system because first system
no longer worked...or you wanted more harddrive, or whatever reason?
Legally, do you have to purchase another XP disk?

If yours is a retail version, no, you don't have to buy it again.
Moving it from one computer to another, or upgrading the hardware
are perfectly reasonable things to do, and you can do it as
necessary.

The only such restriction is with an OEM version. That version is
permanently tied to the first computer it's installed on, and it
can never be legally moved to another computer, sold, given away,
etc.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Ok...what happens if you bought XP for one system...put it on that system,
then decided to put it on another system because first system no longer
worked...or you wanted more harddrive, or whatever reason? Legally, do you
have to purchase another XP disk?

If you buy a retail copy (not an OEM one tied to the hardware it comes
with) you can take it off one machine and install it on another freely,
as long as it is never on more than one. When the activation on the new
machine is needed it may have to be done by phoning in (after 120 days
from the previous activation it can be done on the net once more). See
more on WPA at www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

 

[Ian Merrithew]

Is it legal to use a single copy of Windows XP and
install on a desktop and a laptop that is for my
exclusive use .. as it is with Microsoft Office ??

It is in violation of the Windows EULA. However, whether the "one
computer - one license" provision of said EULA can be enforced in a court
of law against a home user for private, noncommercial use is an
unanswered question. So strictly speaking, it is not illegal [*]; it's
only "uncontractual" (to coin a word).

[*] - under USA copyright law.