Transfering xp home to another computer

[Guest]

Hi all, i want to transfer my copy of xp home to another computer. Ive been
in touch with microsoft here in the u.k. and basically the guy i spoke to was
not very helpful at all. He said several times that it was not possible to
install it on another computer as the licence was only for the original one i
had it on. He said that if it was to go onto another computer it would be
classed as a mislicenced copy. I dont know what that means and neither did he
but every answer to my questions got the same responce. Having read the end
user licence agreement it states that im able to transfer the software to
another computer or a third party as long as its removed completly from the
original machine and it is complete.

If i was to install this on another computer would there be any problems
trying to activate it and if i wanted to sell it on to a third party would
there be the same problems when try to activate it on a different machine.

Has anybody here had the same problems or does someone here know what
happens?.

 

[DL]

This depends whether your version of Winxp is retail or OEM
If its retail, basically you purchased a retail WinXp o/s you can
If OEM, ie supplied preinstalled by your PC supplier you cannot.
Usually when supplied with a PC you only have a recovery disk, and this is
likely locked to the sys it was supplied with.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi all, i want to transfer my copy of xp home to another computer. Ive been
in touch with microsoft here in the u.k. and basically the guy i spoke to was
not very helpful at all. He said several times that it was not possible to
install it on another computer as the licence was only for the original one i
had it on. He said that if it was to go onto another computer it would be
classed as a mislicenced copy. I dont know what that means and neither did he
but every answer to my questions got the same responce. Having read the end
user licence agreement it states that im able to transfer the software to
another computer or a third party as long as its removed completly from the
original machine and it is complete.

You first need to determine what type of license you have. Do you have
a non-transferable OEM license, or a transferable retail license? The
portion of the EULA that you've cited certainly implies the latter. To
be sure, simply right-click My Computer and select "Properties." On the
resulting General tab will be a Product ID. If this Product ID does not
include the letters "OEM" you have a retail license.

If i was to install this on another computer would there be any problems
trying to activate it and if i wanted to sell it on to a third party would
there be the same problems when try to activate it on a different machine.

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

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[Guest]

Thanks very much guys,

Its and upgrade version not oem or a version that came with a new computer.
I dont have it installed on any other computer so i was hoping it would just
activate online. The eula i refered to is on the upgrade disc. but as its
not installed anymore i was having problems emailing microsoft with my
questions.

Thought i would try here first.

Thx Dave

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Thanks very much guys,

Its and upgrade version not oem or a version that came with a new
computer.
I dont have it installed on any other computer so i was hoping it would
just
activate online. The eula i refered to is on the upgrade disc. but as its
not installed anymore i was having problems emailing microsoft with my
questions.

Thought i would try here first.

Thx Dave

To use this XP upgrade CD, you will need to have a CD for a qualifying
previous version of Windows (IIRC, 98 or later), or that must be already
present on the other computer. You can install to a bare drive with the XP
CD; you'll be asked to insert the other Windows disc, then for the XP CD.
From that point, the install is normal.

HTH
-pk

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

You and the Microsoft tech mis-communicated similarly as you did here.
Your original computer is not relevant and your mentioning it suggested OEM.
OEM is normally not transferable regardless the condition of the original
computer.
All that is relevant:
1. Windows XP Home Retail Upgrade (you did not specify retail, but very few
upgrades were OEM and probably no longer available)
2. "I dont have it installed on any other computer"

Retail Windows XP can be moved to any computer as desired as long as it is
only installed on one computer at a time.