WinXP Upgrade: Licensing question

[Brian McCabe]

Hi -

I own an upgrade copy of WinXP home. Coupled with my Win95 disc, I am able
to have Windows XP on my main machine.

However, I recently acquired a second machine that has XP Pro installed on
it. There is a license sticker for NT on the side of the box. Because of the
sticker, I am assuming that the version of XP Pro that is installed came from
an ugrade disc; that part is not particularly relevant though.

Here is my question: Since I have this NT license on this second machine (a
castoff from an acquaintance's employer), can I use my XP Home upgrade disc to
install on this machine as well? -OR- do I have to own ONE copy of XP home
upgrade for each of the two machines? In essense, is an owned copy of XP Home
upgrade good for multiple machines?

Thanks -

Brian Mc

 

[Michael D. Alligood]

We have had a long discussion about this all day. It is my understanding
that you must have one copy for each computer. However, do not be surprised
if this turns into a whole legal post dilemma.

--
Best of luck!

Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW A, CIW CI

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I own an upgrade copy of WinXP home. Coupled with my Win95 disc, I
am able to have Windows XP on my main machine.

However, I recently acquired a second machine that has XP Pro
installed on it. There is a license sticker for NT on the side of the
box. Because of the sticker, I am assuming that the version of XP Pro
that is installed came from an ugrade disc; that part is not
particularly relevant though.

Here is my question: Since I have this NT license on this second
machine (a castoff from an acquaintance's employer), can I use my XP
Home upgrade disc to install on this machine as well? -OR- do I have
to own ONE copy of XP home upgrade for each of the two machines? In
essense, is an owned copy of XP Home upgrade good for multiple
machines?

First off, I thought Windows 95 was not a supported upgrade path to Windows
XP..

Windows XP supported upgrade paths
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=292607

As for your question, you would have to purchase a license for Windows XP
(not necessarily another actual media copy) for every installation you wish
to do. So, in your case you need to own at least two licenses for whatever
version of Windows XP you wish to use on the two computers. What you have
that validates an ability to upgrade has nothing to do with how many
licenses you need.

One installation, one license is essentially what the EULA gives you the
rights to.

As for legalities, moral obligations, ways around such dilemmas, etc - that
is indeterminate.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Brian,

It's one license per computer. Unless the pc was sold to you with all of the
installation media, you do not possess the NT license. You will find that
this is what activation is all about, as it will not activate on the second
machine. Besides, you would have to do a clean install, as you cannot
install WinXP Home as an upgrade to WinNT or install it over WinXP Pro.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[zippy]

If she means running the same CD on both machines at the same time, no she
can't. But if she just wants to use the other one and get rid of the
current one, she could, as long as she doesn't use both computers. And
granted the 95 is a retail version and not OEM. She will not be able to use
the NT as a qualifing OS, because it wasn't really hers in the first place.
But she could use the 95 as a QOS doing a clean install.

p.s.s. If you want to make a successful business out of this computer stuff
(which I have to admit, you sound real good at) I would find the answer to
this. You may be able to save one of your customers some $$ and they will
come back in droves. I know that you can transfer XP on a different
machine, as long as the existing one is not currently running. Ie,
uninstalled, reformatted, hard drive smashed, ect. As I have done this
myself, from my old computer to my newer computer. All it took was a phone
activation which was painless. Why else would one by the full retail
version rather than spending less on an OEM? That's one of the joys of
retail. Although, it would be nice to have one running on destop and one on
laptop, but you can't do that. (legally or ethically) I had to buy a new
version for my daughters computer, only because can't have two machines
running at the same time.

How was school? I'm thinking about going back to school for computer
repair. (I perfer the hardware side, as I'm still lost on the software
side)

 

[Michael D. Alligood]

Sorry guys, I meant one license per computer...

--
Best of luck!

Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW A, CIW CI

 

[WinGuy]

Hi -

I own an upgrade copy of WinXP home. Coupled with my Win95 disc, I am able
to have Windows XP on my main machine.

However, I recently acquired a second machine that has XP Pro installed on
it. There is a license sticker for NT on the side of the box. Because of the
sticker, I am assuming that the version of XP Pro that is installed came from
an ugrade disc; that part is not particularly relevant though.

Here is my question: Since I have this NT license on this second machine (a
castoff from an acquaintance's employer), can I use my XP Home upgrade disc to
install on this machine as well?

For an upgrade you need the full NT (or whatever) installation CD, as the XP
upgrade installation will ask for it (the full version will not, and by
"upgrade" the full version means it will try to keep your current programs
and device drivers during the operating system install). Even if you format
the HDD in the new machine.

The upgrade XP CD must not have already been registered with Microsoft. The
hardware is basically married to the very CD that was used to do an XP
installation, and only very minor hardware changes are allowed before
reactivation requirement is triggered. I'm not sure of the exact method used
(which I'm sure is propriatary) but this might not be far from the truth:
A number is computed based upon the various serial numbers hard-coded into
devices (motherboard, cpu, etc.) Another number is hard coded into the XP CD
itself. Those 2 things are examined at registration time, and it is thereby
known what the hardware configuration was and what CD was used when XP was
first registered. If things differ beyond certain trigger points as relates
to the registered CD license (such as a new motherboard or cpu, for example)
then the trigger occurs and a new activation code must be obtained from
Microsoft -- who may or may not give you one -- and meanwhile the computer
and all the data on it will be inaccessible (you are locked out).

-OR- do I have to own ONE copy of XP home
upgrade for each of the two machines? In essense, is an owned copy of XP Home
upgrade good for multiple machines?

Thanks -

Brian Mc

Basically, you need a separate purchase of XP for every machine that runs
it.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

No, you can't. First of all, WinNT is not a valid qualifying
product for an upgrade to WinXP Home. (It is, however, a qualifying
product for an upgrade to WinXP Pro.) Secondly, you have only one
license for the WinXP Home Upgrade, so you cannot use it on two
computers simultaneously.

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

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.


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

 

[WinGuy]

WinNT is not a valid qualifying
product for an upgrade to WinXP Home. (It is, however, a qualifying
product for an upgrade to WinXP Pro.)

Before posting, I should have again read the small print that is hidden by
optical distortion under the clear plastic ridges of the XP package! It's
also available at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/upgrading/matrix.mspx

I thought from 95 upwards was all listed there as eligible for a direct
upgrade to XP-H or XP-P upgrade versions (assuming original OS CD's in
hand). But I now stand corrected and humbled by faulty carbon based memory.
Only 98 or 98SE or Millenium can be upgraded with XP-Home.

One thing the chart at the above link doesn't seem to make clear. One
apparently can not "upgrade" an already installed retail "upgrade" version
of XP-Home with a later newly purchased "upgrade" version of XP-Home
(basically a transfer of license). The original XP-Home retail upgrade CD
seems to be required in that case.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Shenan;
You are mostly correct.
You can not upgrade Windows 95 to Windows XP.
However you can use a Windows 95 CD as qualifying media if you are
performing a Clean Installation using Windows XP upgrade.
As far as I know all documentation ignores this fact.

 

[Alex Nichol]

However, I recently acquired a second machine that has XP Pro installed on
it. There is a license sticker for NT on the side of the box. Because of the
sticker, I am assuming that the version of XP Pro that is installed came from
an ugrade disc; that part is not particularly relevant though.

Here is my question: Since I have this NT license on this second machine (a
castoff from an acquaintance's employer), can I use my XP Home upgrade disc to
install on this machine as well? -OR- do I have to own ONE copy of XP home
upgrade for each of the two machines? In essense, is an owned copy of XP Home
upgrade good for multiple machines?

No it isn't from the licensing point of view; each machine must have its
own license and Product Key. You can find the Key used on the newly
purchased machine, as below, but it will not work with a Home CD - you
would need to get a Pro version CD to use with it. Note also that you
can't upgrade NT to XP Home, so if it was an NT4 upgrade you would need
a Full version Home, and might as well stay with Upgrade Pro

To find the key used, get the free Everest Home edition from
http://www.lavalys.com/index.php?page=product&view=1
which is an excellent general System Info tool, and its Operating System
- Operating System page will tell you the one used

And if you run regedit.exe and look in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT
\CurrentVersion\WinLogon\PrevOsVersion

it will tell you what it was upgraded from (if anything)

 

[Alex Nichol]

First off, I thought Windows 95 was not a supported upgrade path to Windows
XP..

You cannot do an upgrade from Win95, but the CD is accepted as evidence
of a previous 'qualifying product' in a clean install with an Upgrade CD

 

[Alex Nichol]

One thing the chart at the above link doesn't seem to make clear. One
apparently can not "upgrade" an already installed retail "upgrade" version
of XP-Home with a later newly purchased "upgrade" version of XP-Home
(basically a transfer of license). The original XP-Home retail upgrade CD
seems to be required in that case.

Retail Upgrade CDs are all the same, as are other 'types'; the setup on
them checks to see if the key is valid for that series of CDs. What
you would be doing in such a case anyway would probably just be clearing
the activation, setting out on a new one by phone, and at that point
changing the key; to cancel and then activate on the net. It hardly
comes under the head of Upgrade.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

First off, I thought Windows 95 was not a supported upgrade path to
Windows XP..

You cannot do an upgrade from Win95, but the CD is accepted as
evidence of a previous 'qualifying product' in a clean install with
an Upgrade CD

Thanks Alex. Now I know that all those Windows 95 CDs I have laying around
actually do have a use - saving me money. heh

 

[Shenan Stanley]

First off, I thought Windows 95 was not a supported upgrade path to
Windows XP..

Shenan;
You are mostly correct.
You can not upgrade Windows 95 to Windows XP.
However you can use a Windows 95 CD as qualifying media if you are
performing a Clean Installation using Windows XP upgrade.
As far as I know all documentation ignores this fact.

I guess I never bothered to read anything but the documentation on that
one - certainly never tried to upgrade using Windows 95. But it is good to
know it can be used with the upgrade version for a clean install.

Thanks Jupiter.

So those old Windows 95 CDs I have laying around aren't just nice reflectors
anymore - they can allow me to purchase an Upgrade version of the OS instead
of the full - saving a few bucks in the process.

I don't think I would ever consider upgrading a machine that had Windows 95
installed on it to Windows XP, however. Unless I installed Windows 95 as
some whim/freak experience on my newer PC. =)

Again - thanks to Jupiter and Alex for teaching me something I did not
know.. =)

 

[WinGuy]

Retail Upgrade CDs are all the same, as are other 'types'; the setup on
them checks to see if the key is valid for that series of CDs. What
you would be doing in such a case anyway would probably just be clearing
the activation, setting out on a new one by phone, and at that point
changing the key; to cancel and then activate on the net. It hardly
comes under the head of Upgrade.

Hiya, Alex.
Yea, what happened in that case was that the owner had an older 98 machine
with retail full 98, which died a well deserved death. Luckily, owner still
had the 98 CD. But bought another custom built computer 2nd hand that had
full version of XP-Home on it, licensed to someone else and it had severe OS
file damage & infection too. Customer wanted license in own name so
previously bought XP-Home retail upgrade before bringing it to me, thinking
it was ok because only wanted to upgrade the license itself, & had opened
package (thus no return to store due to their policy clear on the sales
ticket regardless of the license inside the MS package that says to return
it if you don't want it but which can not be read before opening the
package -- that ought to be illegal). Having wiped infections on the
original I went to apply the new retail upgrade to get the license changed
and repair OS damage, only to get disappointed. There was no real
explanation, but I then figured you just couldn't upgrade retail
anything-version of Home with a new retail upgrade version of Home. Luckily,
customer had that 98 CD so I wiped and did a clean install & used the
customer's 98 CD for eligibility (else customer was out $ for the purchase,
and probably me out for my labor too). Just another of those sad stories
where the fine print was not read (or was not readable or was not
understood) by the customer before a non returnable software purchase was
made. The customer has a bad memory of all this and is, of course, waiting
for Linspire to grow up ... no intent to purchase MS products ever again (uh
huh, I wonder how long that resolve will last!) Maybe I could have cleared
the key, but I couldn't connect without core OS repair first and SFC wasn't
doing it, so there ya go.