Uninstall XP, reuse Product Key?

G

Guest

I bought a full install of Windows XP Home to run in a Virtual Machine on my
Mac, for a short term need only. I also have an old Win98 PC that my wife
uses from time to time. Once I no longer need Windows on my Mac, I want to
install XP on that box using the same Product Key. Can I do that? Any issues
I need to be aware of, esp. regarding activation? (I have activated the
install on the Mac.)
 
C

Claymore

I bought a full install of Windows XP Home to run in a Virtual Machine on my
Mac, for a short term need only. I also have an old Win98 PC that my wife
uses from time to time. Once I no longer need Windows on my Mac, I want to
install XP on that box using the same Product Key. Can I do that? Any issues
I need to be aware of, esp. regarding activation? (I have activated the
install on the Mac.)

Yes. Your license allows you to install it on one machine at a time.
Uninstall the first installation and install on the other machine. At
activation, you will be asked to call the 800 number where you can
tell them what you are doing. If all goes well, you'll be done in 5
minutes.
Suggest you do a clean install on the 98 machine, first saving all
needed date, email, favorites, address book, documents etc. first to
another drive or removable media.

Luck!
 
P

peter

You will of course need to uninstall from the Mac first and then install
into your wifes machine.
If the automatic Activation does not work then you will need to phone MS and
expalin the new installation....which should not be a problem......so long
its not an OEM version.
peter
 
R

Rock

ipsyd said:
I bought a full install of Windows XP Home to run in a Virtual Machine on
my
Mac, for a short term need only. I also have an old Win98 PC that my wife
uses from time to time. Once I no longer need Windows on my Mac, I want to
install XP on that box using the same Product Key. Can I do that? Any
issues
I need to be aware of, esp. regarding activation? (I have activated the
install on the Mac.)

You say a full install, but that doesn't describe the important issue. Is
it an OEM copy or a retail copy? If OEM, then by the license it's tied to
the first computer on which it's installed and can't be moved to a different
computer. If it's a retail copy, then yes it can be installed on a
different computer after first uninstalling it from the original system.
 
R

Ron1940

Rock said:
You say a full install, but that doesn't describe the important issue. Is
it an OEM copy or a retail copy? If OEM, then by the license it's tied to
the first computer on which it's installed and can't be moved to a different
computer. If it's a retail copy, then yes it can be installed on a
different computer after first uninstalling it from the original system.
Does this mean; if I am junking out my old machine with a OEM version of WIN
XP Home; that I can no longer use this version on a new virtual machine?
I am changing motherboard, cpu, video card, sound card, HDD, & power supply.
What do I do; Just junk the OEM version along with the other junk componets
 
G

GHalleck

Ron1940 said:
:



Does this mean; if I am junking out my old machine with a OEM version of WIN
XP Home; that I can no longer use this version on a new virtual machine?
I am changing motherboard, cpu, video card, sound card, HDD, & power supply.
What do I do; Just junk the OEM version along with the other junk componets

If that is what is written exactly in the EULA, then it is so.
 

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