Removing XP Pro, do I need to de-activate license, so I can reuse?

[Matt]

I installed XP Pro on my daughters HP Pavilion 8485Z, which I bought in
'98. RAM is almost maxed out (320 of a possible 384), but it still
runs slow. I thought it would, but I installed it anyway after reading
some forum messages suggesting that 128MB is the bare minimum and at
256BMB it should run fine. Anyway, I'm going back to Windows 2000 on
that machine.

The question is, since I will want to re-use the XP Pro on some other
machine, won't MS reject the certifcate (key code) since I've already
installed it? Or is there some magic machination I must go throught to
deactivate the certifcate?

Thanks for your help.

 

[GHalleck]

I installed XP Pro on my daughters HP Pavilion 8485Z, which I bought in
'98. RAM is almost maxed out (320 of a possible 384), but it still
runs slow. I thought it would, but I installed it anyway after reading
some forum messages suggesting that 128MB is the bare minimum and at
256BMB it should run fine. Anyway, I'm going back to Windows 2000 on
that machine.

The question is, since I will want to re-use the XP Pro on some other
machine, won't MS reject the certifcate (key code) since I've already
installed it? Or is there some magic machination I must go throught to
deactivate the certifcate?

Thanks for your help.

Uninstall Windows XP Pro and re-install Windows 2000. [If it
is the retail version of Windows XP Pro, then] it can be re-
installed into a different computer since the license is both
transferrable and re-usable after uninstalling. At the very
worst, a telephone activation may be required. That is all
there is to it. Microsoft cannot deactivate the certificate
because WPA is not unique with discrete identification of any
single computer.

 

[Rock]

I installed XP Pro on my daughters HP Pavilion 8485Z, which I bought in
'98. RAM is almost maxed out (320 of a possible 384), but it still
runs slow. I thought it would, but I installed it anyway after reading
some forum messages suggesting that 128MB is the bare minimum and at
256BMB it should run fine. Anyway, I'm going back to Windows 2000 on
that machine.

The question is, since I will want to re-use the XP Pro on some other
machine, won't MS reject the certifcate (key code) since I've already
installed it? Or is there some magic machination I must go throught to
deactivate the certifcate?

Thanks for your help.

If it's a retail copy it can be taken off one machine and moved to
another as many times as you want. If it's been more than 120 days
activation should go through fine on the internet. If less then you'll
need to make a phone call. Either way it will activate, and there is
nothing you need to do prior to installing it on another system except
removing it from the first one. If it's an OEM copy then by the license
it can't be moved to another system. It's tied to the first machine on
which it's installed.

 

[Matt]

The copy was purchased at the same time a different computer was
purchased, with Windows Media Center as the OS. I bought the XP Pro,
because I thought I'd need it on that computer. The disk sold to me
was a full version, but I'm not sure if that qualifies as an OEM
version, since it wasn't installed on any computer; it was just the
disk. And, it installed fine on the 8485Z old school pavilion.

I think i'll be fine. Thanks so much for your help.

 

[Matt]

the copy of XP Pro was purchased along w/ another computer running
Windows Media Center. I thought I'd want XP Pro on that computer, but
changed my mind. I think it might be an OEM disk, as opposed to
retail. I think it is OEM.

But, it installed fine on the 8485Z.

I hope it'll be ok. I'll just call MS if there's a problem when I end
up installing it on another computer...

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

I installed XP Pro on my daughters HP Pavilion 8485Z, which I bought in
'98. RAM is almost maxed out (320 of a possible 384), but it still
runs slow. I thought it would, but I installed it anyway after reading
some forum messages suggesting that 128MB is the bare minimum and at
256BMB it should run fine. Anyway, I'm going back to Windows 2000 on
that machine.

The question is, since I will want to re-use the XP Pro on some other
machine, won't MS reject the certifcate (key code) since I've already
installed it? Or is there some magic machination I must go throught to
deactivate the certifcate?

Thanks for your help.

Uninstall Windows XP Pro and re-install Windows 2000. [If it
is the retail version of Windows XP Pro, then] it can be re-
installed into a different computer since the license is both
transferrable and re-usable after uninstalling. At the very
worst, a telephone activation may be required. That is all
there is to it. Microsoft cannot deactivate the certificate
because WPA is not unique with discrete identification of any
single computer.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

the copy of XP Pro was purchased along w/ another computer running
Windows Media Center. I thought I'd want XP Pro on that computer, but
changed my mind. I think it might be an OEM disk, as opposed to
retail. I think it is OEM.

It certainly sounds from the above that it's OEM.

The single biggest disadvanatge of an OEM version, in my view, is that once
it's installed on a computer, its license binds it permanently to that
computer. It can never legally be moved to another computer, sold, or given
away (except along with that computer).


--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

But, it installed fine on the 8485Z.

I hope it'll be ok. I'll just call MS if there's a problem when I end
up installing it on another computer...

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

I installed XP Pro on my daughters HP Pavilion 8485Z, which I
bought in '98. RAM is almost maxed out (320 of a possible 384),
but it still runs slow. I thought it would, but I installed it
anyway after reading some forum messages suggesting that 128MB is
the bare minimum and at 256BMB it should run fine. Anyway, I'm
going back to Windows 2000 on that machine.

The question is, since I will want to re-use the XP Pro on some
other machine, won't MS reject the certifcate (key code) since I've
already installed it? Or is there some magic machination I must go
throught to deactivate the certifcate?

Thanks for your help.

Uninstall Windows XP Pro and re-install Windows 2000. [If it
is the retail version of Windows XP Pro, then] it can be re-
installed into a different computer since the license is both
transferrable and re-usable after uninstalling. At the very
worst, a telephone activation may be required. That is all
there is to it. Microsoft cannot deactivate the certificate
because WPA is not unique with discrete identification of any
single computer.

 

[Rock]

The copy was purchased at the same time a different computer was
purchased, with Windows Media Center as the OS. I bought the XP Pro,
because I thought I'd need it on that computer. The disk sold to me
was a full version, but I'm not sure if that qualifies as an OEM
version, since it wasn't installed on any computer; it was just the
disk. And, it installed fine on the 8485Z old school pavilion.

I think i'll be fine. Thanks so much for your help.

You'd know if it was retail. A retail version would have come in a nice
fancy box. It does sound like it was an OEM copy, and since it has
already been installed on one computer, it's tied to that computer and
can't be moved, per the license agreement, to another system, sold or
given away unless that computer on which it's installed is part of the
deal.