Re-use Windows OS?

O

Old Enough

In 2001, I bought a computer which has W 98 installed.
A few years ago, I purchased an upgrade to Windows XP - Home Edition.

I'm conidering getting another computer, and buying it without an OS.
Since the old computer will be junked, can I legally and technically
install the OS which I own on the new computer?
_________________________________
Old Enough
to know I don't know a thing ....
 
J

John John

Yes, but to install Windows XP cleanly with the upgrade cd you will have
to provide proof of ownership of a qualifying Windows version. When you
use an upgrade cd to install Windows on a hard disk without any
operating system installed the setup program will tell you that it found
no operating system to upgrade and it will then ask you to insert the cd
of a previous qualifying Windows version in the cd drive. Once it is
satisfied that you "own" a previous version it will proceed to install
cleanly. So to use your upgrade disk you need a cd from a previous
version, or you need a previous Windows OS already installed.

John
 
J

JS

As long as you still have that W98 CD handy upgrade edition of Windows XP
will install OK and is legal.
Suggest you get the drivers for the new PC (motherboard, video, sound,
network card, etc.).

JS
 
T

Tom [Pepper] Willett

Since Win 98 was pre-installed on the old pc, it's most likely OEM and won't
qualify for the upgrade.

| As long as you still have that W98 CD handy upgrade edition of Windows XP
| will install OK and is legal.
| Suggest you get the drivers for the new PC (motherboard, video, sound,
| network card, etc.).
|
| JS
|
| | > In 2001, I bought a computer which has W 98 installed.
| > A few years ago, I purchased an upgrade to Windows XP - Home Edition.
| >
| > I'm conidering getting another computer, and buying it without an OS.
| > Since the old computer will be junked, can I legally and technically
| > install the OS which I own on the new computer?
| > _________________________________
| > Old Enough
| > to know I don't know a thing ....
|
|
 
J

JS

At the time I bought my Win98 PC it did not come with an 'OEM' version but
with a Retail version.
So I had no problem doing a WinXP clean install.

JS
 
O

Old Enough

At the time I bought my Win98 PC it did not come with an 'OEM' version but
with a Retail version.
So I had no problem doing a WinXP clean install.

I guess my original W98 was "OEM" - the CD I received with that
computer is labeled
"Synergio Manufacturing Ltd.
Product Recovery CD ROM"

Does that mean I'm SOL and the answer to my original question is "no"?
Original question:
_________________________________________________________
In 2001, I bought a computer which has W 98 installed.
A few years ago, I purchased an upgrade to Windows XP - Home Edition.

I'm conidering getting another computer, and buying it without an OS.
Since the old computer will be junked, can I legally and technically
install the OS which I own on the new computer?
_________________________________________________________

Thanks for any clarification.
_________________________________
Old Enough
to know I don't know a thing ....
 
J

John John

Old said:
I guess my original W98 was "OEM" - the CD I received with that
computer is labeled
"Synergio Manufacturing Ltd.
Product Recovery CD ROM"

Does that mean I'm SOL and the answer to my original question is "no"?
Original question:

You can try it but it will probably not work. You could "borrow" a
retail Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000 cd from a friend, family member, work
colleague or work place for your installation. It is not in full
compliance with the EULA (because Microsoft only got money from you
once, instead of twice) but it will permit you to install the upgrade
version. But there is nothing stopping one of the above mentioned
person "giving" you his old unneeded Windows cd or selling it to you for
5 cents, then you will be completely legit!

Alternatively you can buy an older Windows Retail version on ebay. But
then, that may cost more than getting a new license and having it
installed by the computer manufacturer. But then again, maybe not,
nowadays most pc manufacturers are to cheap to include a 25 cent cd with
their computers, they may charge you $20-$25 for the cd and it may only
be a crappy restore cd anyway! So buying on ebay may be a good idea,
it's up to you to decide.

John
 
B

Bruce Chambers

What's in a Name? said:
Would XP accept a 98 boot disk as "proof"?
max


If you mean 3.5" floppy disk, then no. You need the real installation CD.


--

Bruce Chambers

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safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

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killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 

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