Transfer XP from one PC to another

[J]

I have an old PC with Windows XP Professional on it and a newer PC with
XP Home. I want to upgrade the XP Home installation to Professional
with the setup disk that I have and remove Windows from the old PC.

Since I will be installing XP Professional on only one PC, I guess I
should be allowed to do the "transfer". But I doubt if Product
Activation will allow me to do it. Any suggestions on how to do this?
Thank you.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have an old PC with Windows XP Professional on it and a newer PC
with XP Home. I want to upgrade the XP Home installation to
Professional with the setup disk that I have and remove Windows
from the old PC.

Since I will be installing XP Professional on only one PC, I guess I
should be allowed to do the "transfer". But I doubt if Product
Activation will allow me to do it. Any suggestions on how to do
this? Thank you.

OEM, Retail or Upgrade license on the Windows XP Professional?

Did the old PC come with Windows XP installed and possibly a sticker with
the product key stuck to the case?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have an old PC with Windows XP Professional on it and a newer PC
with XP Home. I want to upgrade the XP Home installation to
Professional with the setup disk that I have and remove Windows from
the old PC.

Since I will be installing XP Professional on only one PC, I guess I
should be allowed to do the "transfer". But I doubt if Product
Activation will allow me to do it. Any suggestions on how to do this?

Assuming that your copy of XP Professional is a retail copy (not OEM) and
that it's a Full or Upgrade copy, there is no problem. Just do it. Worst
case, you will be prompted to activate by voice call to an 800 number. But
that's quick and easy.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have an old PC with Windows XP Professional on it and a newer PC with
XP Home. I want to upgrade the XP Home installation to Professional
with the setup disk that I have and remove Windows from the old PC.

Since I will be installing XP Professional on only one PC, I guess I
should be allowed to do the "transfer". But I doubt if Product
Activation will allow me to do it. Any suggestions on how to do this?
Thank you.

Assuming a retail license (OEM licenses are not legitimately
transferable), simply remove WinXP from the computer it is currently on
and then install it on the new computer. If it's been more than 120
days since you last activated that specific Product Key, the you'll most
likely be able to activate via the Internet without problem. If it's
been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm



--

Bruce Chambers

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[J]

Thanks for the informative replies. The XP Prof version I have is the
retail full version, and I had built my old PC from parts. I'll go
ahead and delete the installation on the old PC and upgrade the new
one. Thanks for all the help.