How many puters can I put my XP Home Software on and Can i put it onto a
laptop as well??
One. The rule is quite clear. It's one copy (or one license) for each
computer.
There's nothing new here. This is exactly the same rule that's been in
effect on every version of Windows starting with Windows 3.1. The only
thing new with XP is that there's now an enforcement mechanism.
If yours is a retail version, not an OEM one, you can buy extra
licenses (see
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp). But it's
not generally a good deal. The problem is that Microsoft sells
additional licenses at only a small savings over the list price.
You're almost certainly better off just buying a complete second copy
from a discount source.
Can i also change CPU and M/B with this
I don't know what you mean by "with this." Are you asking whether your
license remains valid and you can reactivate if you change your
motherboard? If so, the answer is yes.
However be aware of the following: If yours is an OEM license (for
example, if Windows came with your computer, there are two other
potential issues:
1. The technical issue. Most brand name OEM copies are BIOS-locked to
the original motherboard, and won't install on another, unless it's
identical to the original one.
2. The licensing issue. An OEM copy comes with several
restrictions, the most severe of which is that its license ties it
permanently to the first computer it's installed on. It can never
legally be moved to another computer, sold, or given away (except with
the original computer). Exactly what constitutes the same computer is
a gray area, and if you replace the motherboard, there are those who
claim that it's no longer the same computer.
However read
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/a...
or
http://tinyurl.com/384gx5
which says,
"If you acquired Windows Vista pre-installed on a computer from a
major manufacturer (sometimes referred to as an Original Equipment
Manufacturer or OEM), Windows Vista will require re-activation if you
replace the motherboard with a motherboard not provided by the OEM."
It's about Vista in particular, not XP, but I assume if they say it
about Vista, the same very likely applies to Windows XP. Since
replacing a motherboard requires reactivation, that implies that
replacing the motherboard and using the same OEM copy of Windows *is*
permitted by the EULA.
