Putting XP that came bundled with a Laptop on a new computer

[Guest]

My Compaq Laptop recently died. I was running Windows XP Professional, but
it loaded off of the "Compaq Quick Restore" disks, not a separate Windows XP
disk. These disks will not run on my new computer since they are specific to
my Compaq laptop. I do have the XP "Certificate of Authenticity number"
"xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx" from my original installation.

I have two questions:
1. Do I own XP Professional for installation on a new computer, or does
Microsoft give installations only for a specific computer?

2. If I do own it, how do I go about installing it? Would having a friend
copy his XP disks work (and would it be legal)?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My Compaq Laptop recently died. I was running Windows XP
Professional, but it loaded off of the "Compaq Quick Restore" disks,
not a separate Windows XP disk. These disks will not run on my new
computer since they are specific to my Compaq laptop. I do have the
XP "Certificate of Authenticity number"
"xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx" from my original installation.

I have two questions:
1. Do I own XP Professional for installation on a new computer, or
does Microsoft give installations only for a specific computer?

You had (with your Compaq laptop that died) what is called an OEM license..
(Original Equipment Manufacturer.)
These are available to anyone who builds their own systems - at a reduced
rate. The reasons for the reduced rate are many - but the basics (that
affect you) are that the license in non-transferrable and dies when the
computer dies.

2. If I do own it, how do I go about installing it? Would having a
friend copy his XP disks work (and would it be legal)?

Se the answer to #1 - you don't "own it" - you had the right to use it on
the original computer it was installed on. Whne that computer died, your
right to that copy died with it.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for getting back to me. I was afraid of that. At least it is nice
to know so I can start moving forward on figuring out what to do next.

Thank you again,
Rob