Windows Re-Activation

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Guest

I recently had Windows prompt me to re-activate. It's now saying that my key
has been used on too many computers. Unfortunately, my old computer had a
hardware problem, so I opted to buy a new computer. I re-installed my version
of Windows in this computer seeing as how my old computer is at the bottom of
a scrap heap by now. So now my question is, can I continue using this version
of Windows with this key even though there's a pile of garbage on top of my
old one?
 
Joe said:
I recently had Windows prompt me to re-activate. It's now saying
that my key has been used on too many computers. Unfortunately, my
old computer had a hardware problem, so I opted to buy a new
computer. I re-installed my version of Windows in this computer
seeing as how my old computer is at the bottom of a scrap heap by
now. So now my question is, can I continue using this version of
Windows with this key even though there's a pile of garbage on top
of my old one?
Click to expand...

Did your "old computer" come with the Windows XP you have attempted to move
over or did you buy it in a retail store/Internet and it is not labeled
"OEM"?
 
Shenan Stanley said:
Did your "old computer" come with the Windows XP you have attempted to move
over or did you buy it in a retail store/Internet and it is not labeled
"OEM"?
Click to expand...

The version of Windows came with the old computer as an OEM version.
Everything was sealed, and the only other computer it's been on since then is
my new one; the one I'm typing on.
 
The version of Windows came with the old computer as an OEM version.
Everything was sealed, and the only other computer it's been on since then is
my new one; the one I'm typing on.
Click to expand...

The license for an OEM version of Windows XP is permanently locked to
the first computer that it is installed on. It cannot be legitimately
transferred to another computer under any circumstances, even if the
original computer is lost, stolen, scrapped, or destroyed.

Hope this explains the situation.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
Never buy a computer with XP installed. Find a dealer that will sell you a PC
with NON-OE Win-XP. The way MS license is enforced if your motherboard, CPU
and possibly even any other part of the "original" computer dies you have to
buy a new license.
Of course no one tells you this when you buy the PC in the first place.
 
Sellers are somewhat tardy in explaining the fact that an OEM win licence
cannot be transfered.
However what you are actually buying is a sys that has win installed, you
are not buying a sys + win.
 
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