Will XP OEM be able to be moved to another PC AND activated?

[OscarVogel]

I bought An OEM version of XP (sp2c) at a local electonics store. I want to
install it on a laptop.

If I ever replace this laptop, and want to install it on my next laptop,
will I be able to get it activated? I know I would at least have to call
MS's 800 number. I've done that before when I've moved XP &/or Office from
one PC to another. But will this OEM version be treated any differently?

 

[DL]

An OEM version is licensed to the first PC its installed on, its not
transferable.
And if your Laptop was supplied with Vista you would need to find out
whether winxp drivers are available before you do the dirty deed. - which
might also affect any warrantee or support

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I bought An OEM version of XP (sp2c) at a local electonics store. I want
to install it on a laptop.

If I ever replace this laptop, and want to install it on my next laptop,
will I be able to get it activated? I know I would at least have to call
MS's 800 number. I've done that before when I've moved XP &/or Office
from one PC to another. But will this OEM version be treated any
differently?

OEM versions are permanently tied to the machine they were first installed
on.

 

[GlowingBlueMist]

I bought An OEM version of XP (sp2c) at a local electonics store. I want
to install it on a laptop.

If I ever replace this laptop, and want to install it on my next laptop,
will I be able to get it activated? I know I would at least have to call
MS's 800 number. I've done that before when I've moved XP &/or Office
from one PC to another. But will this OEM version be treated any
differently?

Normally an OEM copy is for use on the first computer it is installed on and
no others, not like a retail version where you can transfer it to another
computer provided you are deleting it from the first one.

OEM versions are sometimes modified by the manufacturer, not Microsoft, to
work with one brand or even a specific model of computer making them
difficult at best for installing them anything they were not created for.

 

[Alias]

I bought An OEM version of XP (sp2c) at a local electonics store. I
want to install it on a laptop.

If I ever replace this laptop, and want to install it on my next laptop,
will I be able to get it activated? I know I would at least have to
call MS's 800 number. I've done that before when I've moved XP &/or
Office from one PC to another. But will this OEM version be treated any
differently?

I assume you bought a generic OEM copy of XP. You're not supposed to
move it to another computer as per the EULA but if 120 days have passed
since the last activation/hardware change, you can do it and it will
activate online, become genuine and all the other "anti piracy" crap MS
throws at you.

Ignore the people on their high moral horses who will now call me a
thief, communist or whatever.

Alias

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I bought An OEM version of XP (sp2c) at a local electonics store. I want to
install it on a laptop.

If I ever replace this laptop, and want to install it on my next laptop,
will I be able to get it activated? I know I would at least have to call
MS's 800 number. I've done that before when I've moved XP &/or Office from
one PC to another. But will this OEM version be treated any differently?

An OEM version is permanently tied by its license to the first
computer its installed on, and it may never be moved to another.

I think OEM copies of Windows XP are very poor value,
and I always recommend the retail upgrade, which usually costs only
slightly more, instead. And despite what some people think, an upgrade
copy *can* do a clean installation as long as you own a CD of a
previous qualifying version to show it as proof of ownership when
prompted. Most people have a Windows 98 CD around, but worst case, if
you don't, you can buy one inexpensively someplace like eBay.

 

[Daave]

I bought An OEM version of XP (sp2c) at a local electonics store. I
want to install it on a laptop.

If I ever replace this laptop, and want to install it on my next
laptop, will I be able to get it activated? I know I would at least
have to call MS's 800 number. I've done that before when I've moved
XP &/or Office from one PC to another. But will this OEM version be
treated any differently?

If you ever intend on installing XP on a laptop, you need to make sure
that there are XP-specific drivers for the hardware.

Assuming you purchased a generic OEM version of XP (and it sounds like
you have), you should be able to transfer it to another PC. Note,
however, that this goes against the EULA.

That being said, if you plan on purchasing a laptop in the future, why
not get one that has XP installed on it? They still exist! You can even
get one with Vista and XP downgrade license. See:

http://www.dell.com/business/laptops

and

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/e...rsatile&psn=notebooks_tablet_pcs/notebook_pcs

 

[Xandros]

An OEM version is permanently tied by its license to the first
computer its installed on, and it may never be moved to another.

I think OEM copies of Windows XP are very poor value,
and I always recommend the retail upgrade, which usually costs only
slightly more, instead. And despite what some people think, an upgrade
copy *can* do a clean installation as long as you own a CD of a
previous qualifying version to show it as proof of ownership when
prompted. Most people have a Windows 98 CD around, but worst case, if
you don't, you can buy one inexpensively someplace like eBay.

Just remember that if you use an earlier version of Windows to satisfy the
Upgrade request it is tied to the computer you performed the upgrade with.
So you can't have it installed on any other system.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I bought An OEM version of XP (sp2c) at a local electonics store. I
want to install it on a laptop.

If I ever replace this laptop, and want to install it on my next laptop,
will I be able to get it activated? I know I would at least have to
call MS's 800 number. I've done that before when I've moved XP &/or
Office from one PC to another. But will this OEM version be treated any
differently?

An OEM version must be sold with a piece of hardware (normally a
motherboard or hard rive, if not an entire PC) and is _permanently_
bound to the first PC on which it's installed. An OEM license, once
installed, is not legally transferable to another computer under _any_
circumstances.


--

Bruce Chambers

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