Re-using Dell OS cd (XP Pro) on a different PC

[Paul Kraemer]

Hi,

I have a notebook PC that I bought from Dell that came with Windows XP Pro.
This notebook no longer works and it not worth trying to fix. If I buy a new
desktop PC with no OS installed, should I be able use the XP Pro CD and
product key that came with the notebook?

I am not sure if Dell does anything to restrict the copy of XP to the PC
that it was actually purchased with.

Thanks in advance,
Paul

 

[David B.]

The OEM license that shipped with your Dell died with the Dell, per the EULA
you are not allowed to install it on another computer. You will be able to
install XP using the Dell disk but it will not activate as it is tied to the
Dell BIOS.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,

I have a notebook PC that I bought from Dell that came with Windows XP Pro.
This notebook no longer works and it not worth trying to fix. If I buy a new
desktop PC with no OS installed, should I be able use the XP Pro CD and
product key that came with the notebook?

No, you should not be able to. By your own admission, you have an OEM
license for WinXP from the defunct machine. 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.

I am not sure if Dell does anything to restrict the copy of XP to the PC
that it was actually purchased with.

Like most manufacturers nowadays, they lock their recovery/installation
CDs to a Dell BIOS, to further prevent just the sort of software piracy
you're contemplating.


--

Bruce Chambers

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[SC Tom]

Hi,

I have a notebook PC that I bought from Dell that came with Windows XP
Pro.
This notebook no longer works and it not worth trying to fix. If I buy a
new
desktop PC with no OS installed, should I be able use the XP Pro CD and
product key that came with the notebook?

I am not sure if Dell does anything to restrict the copy of XP to the PC
that it was actually purchased with.

Thanks in advance,
Paul

This may help:

"Windows XP OEM
Prerequisites: Must be shipped pre-installed on a new computer
Versions: Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional
Upgrade version: No
License is transferable: No

OEM copies of Microsoft Windows are sold at a reduced price for bundling
with new computer systems. The price of an OEM copy may be as little as 30%
of that of the retail packaged product.

Until fairly recently it was legal to purchase an OEM copy of Windows with
any "substantial" piece of hardware. This rule has now been tightened, and
OEM copies of Windows may now only be purchased with (and pre-installed on)
a new computer.

From the Microsoft OEM System Builder License:
4. SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION.
4.1 We grant you a nonexclusive right to distribute an individual software
license only with a fully assembled computer system. A "fully assembled
computer system" means a computer system consisting of at least a central
processing unit, a motherboard, a hard drive, a power supply, and a case.

The license for OEM products does not allow transferring the product to
another user or PC, even if the original PC is no longer in use."

The last line pretty much sums it up. Sorry.

SC Tom