Windows XP Professional On Two Computers

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Guest

I am thinking about upgrading two of my Windows XP Home Edition Computers to
Professional. Can I buy just one Windows XP CD or do I need two?
 
Val

Methinks that you already know the answer to this one.. you will need two..
one product key per machine.. :-)
 
You need to purchase two (2) copies of the "Retail Upgrade"
version of Windows XP Professional if you wish to upgrade
two (2) versions of Windows XP Home Edition.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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"VAL" wrote:

| I am thinking about upgrading two of my Windows XP Home Edition Computers to
| Professional. Can I buy just one Windows XP CD or do I need two?
 
VAL said:
I am thinking about upgrading two of my Windows XP Home Edition
Computers to Professional. Can I buy just one Windows XP CD or do I
need two?
Click to expand...



You need two. 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.
 
Do not purchase any software from eBay!
Many sellers are offering bogus software
with bogus descriptions! Buyer Beware!

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Because I saw one on eBay that advertised that you could load it on more than
| one.
 
Val

There is a version of MS Office that allows for more than one installation,
but this has never applied to any MS operating system..
 
VAL said:
I am thinking about upgrading two of my Windows XP Home Edition Computers to
Professional. Can I buy just one Windows XP CD or do I need two?
Click to expand...


You need to purchase a separate WinXP license for each computer on
which you install it.

Just as it has *always* been with *all* Microsoft operating
systems, it's necessary (to be in compliance with both the EULA and U.S.
copyright law http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/117.html), if not
technically) to purchase one WinXP license for each computer on which it
is installed. (Consult an attorney versed in copyright law to determine
final applicability in your locale.) The only way in which WinXP
licensing differs from that of earlier versions of Windows is that
Microsoft has finally added a copy protection and anti-theft mechanism,
Product Activation, to prevent (or at least make more difficult)
multiple installations using a single license.

One can buy additional licenses, assuming one already has a retail
license. Naturally, Microsoft cannot sell additional OEM licenses. Be
aware, however, that you'll probably pay more this way than you would if
you were to buy a second copy of WinXP from a discount retailer;
Microsoft will only offer you a 15% discount off their MSRP.

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Home Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/addlic.asp

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp



--

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
 
VAL said:
Because I saw one on eBay that advertised that you could load it on more than
one.
Click to expand...


What makes you think that that could possibly be a legitimate claim?
Was it a Volume License? Be very careful buying any software on eBay,
as eBay makes no prior effort to ensure that such sales are legitimate;
they react only when someone files a complaint. (And then all that
really happens is the seller of the pirated software returns using a
different alias, to continue selling illegitimate licenses.)


--

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
 
=?Utf-8?B?VkFM?= said:
Because I saw one on eBay that advertised that you could load it on more than
one.
Click to expand...

Buy it then. I always trust anything people say on ebay to sell stuff.
 
People have said that you need to purchase two copies. However, the truth is
you need two COA (Certificate of Authensity) which contain the CD install key.
Each need to be unique. You can not normally buy the COA separate in store
(beware of eBay!) but you could get the second one from Microsoft directly.
However, it may be the full price of a second retail kit.
 
........ which is why the OP may as well buy to copies.. assuming that they
are identical, that will give the OP a spare CD..
 
Yves said:
People have said that you need to purchase two copies. However, the
truth is you need two COA (Certificate of Authensity) which contain
the CD install key. Each need to be unique. You can not normally buy
the COA separate in store (beware of eBay!) but you could get the
second one from Microsoft directly. However, it may be the full price
of a second retail kit.
Click to expand...



Buying a second license from Microsoft *is* possible if yours is a retail
version. 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.
 
VAL said:
I am thinking about upgrading two of my Windows XP Home Edition Computers to
Professional. Can I buy just one Windows XP CD or do I need two?
Click to expand...

It depends on the context you are asking. *Legally*, you have to buy
two copies of the upgrade version. But, since I have no morals, I
wouldn't lose any sleep about only buying one copy and using it to
upgrade both computers.

*Legally*, I am not allowed to take the tag off of my mattress and
pillows either, but again, I am a terrible social deviant which is
clearly evident by my following "The Law."

Let your conscience be your guide.
 
Hotmail said:
It depends on the context you are asking. *Legally*, you have to buy
two copies of the upgrade version. But, since I have no morals, I
wouldn't lose any sleep about only buying one copy and using it to
upgrade both computers.

*Legally*, I am not allowed to take the tag off of my mattress and
pillows either, but again, I am a terrible social deviant which is
clearly evident by my following "The Law."

Let your conscience be your guide.
Click to expand...

The line should read "clearly evident by not following the law."
 
Hotmail said:
*Legally*, I am not allowed to take the tag off of my mattress and
pillows either, but again, I am a terrible social deviant which is
clearly evident by my following "The Law."
Click to expand...


Nonsense! Read the tags, fool. They clearly state that the consumer
can remove them.


--

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
 
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