Upgrade or Full Version - want to move XP to second computer?

[Guest]

I currently have two systems, a desktop running full version of XP Pro, and a
notebook running full version of XP Home. Want to upgrade the Desktop to
Vista Ultimate and then upgrade my notebook to XP Pro, using the full version
I have.

I assume I will need to purchase the FULL version of Vista for my desktop so
my XP Pro key remains valid so I can reuse it upgrade my notebook?

If I purchase the full version of Vista, can I use it to upgrade my desktop
instead of reformatting and installing? If I can upgrade, using the full
version of Vista, can I then use my XP pro key to upgrade my notebook from XP
Home to Pro?

My desktop is my home system but I use my notebook for work and they don't
support Vista yet...

Thanks

 

[Mike Brannigan]

I currently have two systems, a desktop running full version of XP Pro, and
a
notebook running full version of XP Home. Want to upgrade the Desktop to
Vista Ultimate and then upgrade my notebook to XP Pro, using the full
version
I have.

I assume I will need to purchase the FULL version of Vista for my desktop
so
my XP Pro key remains valid so I can reuse it upgrade my notebook?

Correct.

If I purchase the full version of Vista, can I use it to upgrade my
desktop
instead of reformatting and installing? If I can upgrade, using the full
version of Vista, can I then use my XP pro key to upgrade my notebook from
XP
Home to Pro?

Yes - you can do the upgrade using the Full version and thus your XP Pro
license is still available for use on the laptop.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I currently have two systems, a desktop running full version of XP Pro, and a
notebook running full version of XP Home. Want to upgrade the Desktop to
Vista Ultimate and then upgrade my notebook to XP Pro, using the full version
I have.

I assume I will need to purchase the FULL version of Vista for my desktop so
my XP Pro key remains valid so I can reuse it upgrade my notebook?

That is correct. When one uses an Upgrade license, the older license
that's used as a qualifying product for the Upgrade license cannot
legitimately be used anywhere else, as it becomes subsumed by, and an
inseparable part of, the upgrade.

If I purchase the full version of Vista, can I use it to upgrade my desktop
instead of reformatting and installing?

Yes, that should work, assuming there are no hardware or software
incompatibilities. The retail full installation DVD is capable of
performing an upgrade installation. As you want to upgrade from WinXP
Pro, you'd have to use either Vista Business or Vista Ultimate; the
Vista Home varieties wouldn't be able to install over WinXP Pro.

If I can upgrade, using the full
version of Vista, can I then use my XP pro key to upgrade my notebook from XP
Home to Pro?

Perhaps; you've not provided quite enough information for a definitive
answer. The WinXP installation will have been, in effect, replaced by
Vista. If the WinXP Pro license is a retail license, it is transferable
to a new computer. However, if that WinXP Pro license is an OEM
license, it won't be transferable to the laptop. An OEM version is
_permanently_ bound to the first PC on which it's installed. An OEM
license, once installed, is not legitimately transferable to another
computer under _any_ circumstances.


--

Bruce Chambers

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

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[xfile]

Hi,

I might also consider if OEM version might be applicable:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2087792,00.asp

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070130-8730.html

Hope that helps.

 

[Guest]

Both versions of XP (Pro/Home) that I currently have are retail and not OEM
versions...

Al

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Both versions of XP (Pro/Home) that I currently have are retail and not OEM
versions...

Then you're "good to go."

--

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

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[mikeyhsd]

this web site provides the information on how to do clean install using UPGRADE media.
it takes a little longer as you actually have to install vista 2 times.

but this would release your xp key to upgrade the laptop.

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932



(e-mail address removed)



I currently have two systems, a desktop running full version of XP Pro, and a
notebook running full version of XP Home. Want to upgrade the Desktop to
Vista Ultimate and then upgrade my notebook to XP Pro, using the full version
I have.

I assume I will need to purchase the FULL version of Vista for my desktop so
my XP Pro key remains valid so I can reuse it upgrade my notebook?

If I purchase the full version of Vista, can I use it to upgrade my desktop
instead of reformatting and installing? If I can upgrade, using the full
version of Vista, can I then use my XP pro key to upgrade my notebook from XP
Home to Pro?

My desktop is my home system but I use my notebook for work and they don't
support Vista yet...

Thanks