XP License and Activation

[Stuart]

I recently built a computer and would like to take
Windows XP off my old one and put it on the new one. When
I do this and then try to activate it I get a message
saying that the product key has already been activated
and so I can't activate the install on the new computer.
Is there a way to unactivate my old install so that the
new one can be activated?

 

[Shenan T. Stanley]

I recently built a computer and would like to take
Windows XP off my old one and put it on the new one. When
I do this and then try to activate it I get a message
saying that the product key has already been activated
and so I can't activate the install on the new computer.
Is there a way to unactivate my old install so that the
new one can be activated?

Make sure the copy you are transferring is not an OEM copy of the OS - if it
CAME WITH the PC, it is likely an OEM copy. If it is Retail, then you
should be able to do the following:

Step One: Uninstall/Format old system.
Step Two: Call Microsoft to complete the activation process instead of just
trying to do it over the Internet.