Upgrading / downgrading XP versions

[Guest]

I just purchased a new laptop that came with XP Pro, and a
desktop that came with XP Home - I would like to use the
desktop as a "server" for 4 or 5 users, and therefore
would like to put the Pro version onto that machine, and
put the Home version onto the laptop -

I assume that since I own the two versions, there is no
legal reason I cannot move the two, but what about
technical considerations? Can I boot the laptop from the
Home version install CD and install down to Home, and then
can I use the Pro install CD to install "up" to Pro on the
desktop? Are these CDs special to the brand or model of
computer they came with? Any other issues I should know
about?

All help greatly appreciated -

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Preinstalled OEM versions of XP are usually bios-locked to the
specific computer that came with. They will not install on any
other computer.

For additional details:

Go to Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter. Then click
on "End-User License Agreement" and read it.

Also, open XP's "Help and Support" and type: EULA
and click on "Questions and Answers about the
End-User License Agreement".


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

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| I just purchased a new laptop that came with XP Pro, and a
| desktop that came with XP Home - I would like to use the
| desktop as a "server" for 4 or 5 users, and therefore
| would like to put the Pro version onto that machine, and
| put the Home version onto the laptop -
|
| I assume that since I own the two versions, there is no
| legal reason I cannot move the two, but what about
| technical considerations? Can I boot the laptop from the
| Home version install CD and install down to Home, and then
| can I use the Pro install CD to install "up" to Pro on the
| desktop? Are these CDs special to the brand or model of
| computer they came with? Any other issues I should know
| about?
|
| All help greatly appreciated -

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

You assume incorrectly.

You really should try reading your EULA sometime. After all, you
agreed to be bound by its conditions. You'll find that what you're
contemplating _is_ expressly prohibited by the EULA.

OEM versions must be sold with a piece of hardware (normally
a motherboard or hard drive, if not an entire PC, although Microsoft
has greatly relaxed the hardware criteria for WinXP) and are
_permanently_ bound to the first PC on which they are installed. An
OEM license, once installed, is not legally transferable to another
computer under _any_ circumstances.

Additionally, the OEM installation or Recovery CDs that came with
each computer very probably will not install on any brand/model of PC
other than the ones they came with.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Ed Peluffo]

Why don't you just call the OEM for the 2 computesr and ask the if they can
switch the OS for you and send you new CDs and Licenses. They might just do
it for free, you never know!