reinstalling windows xp on new machine

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Jan Mojzis - 11 Apr 2008 15:09 GMT

Hi there,
should anybody please tell me if its possible to reinstall my old copy of
windows xp on a new machine? Its not shipped with the old machine. The
product description is

WinXP Professional EN w/SP2 w/Slowak LIP
3pk DSP 3 OEI CD

I want to remove Win from the old one and put it into a new machine. What
about activation, is this portation possible?

Regards
Jan Mojzis

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Mark L. Ferguson - 11 Apr 2008 16:12 GMT

The Product Key itself pretty much answers the question. The key will have
the letters OEM in the key, if it is married to that old hardware. There
would be a COA(Cert of Authority) label stuck on the machine itself, and the
EULA will say what rights it has.

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Mark L. Ferguson
.

> Hi there,
> should anybody please tell me if its possible to reinstall my old copy of
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Regards
> Jan Mojzis

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Jan Mojzis - 11 Apr 2008 16:50 GMT

Yes it bears OEM tag. "OEM Software". EULA says something about selling of
computer - this is possible. But it says nothing on preinstallation. But I
have shipped XP separately. First PC with illegal, then I purchased a legal
copy. I think that not makes it "bound". Also it have OEM preinstallation kit
for system builders, which is not meant to end users but still I have it (was
in the box). Now how to resolve it?

> The Product Key itself pretty much answers the question. The key will have
> the letters OEM in the key, if it is married to that old hardware. There
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> > Regards
> > Jan Mojzis

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Mark L. Ferguson - 11 Apr 2008 17:04 GMT

It may be transferable, but the only way to know is to try it. If it has
been 120 days since last activation, and it's good for any machine, it will
do it automatically when you tell it to activate.

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Mark L. Ferguson
.

> Yes it bears OEM tag. "OEM Software". EULA says something about selling of
> computer - this is possible. But it says nothing on preinstallation. But I
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>> > Regards
>> > Jan Mojzis

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Jan Mojzis - 11 Apr 2008 17:26 GMT

Yes youre correct. But what I am willing to know also, how it just knows that
its not a illegal copy when it tries to activate? In my theory it should make
"something" like: I am XP, I was installed on PC ccc333555, but I am running
on PC ddd555666, for this I will refuse to activate. :). But, ha, It should
note, that it is uninstalled from ccc333555, shouldnt it? You say 120 days
after last activ. But lets say, this condition suits me. Then how it does
know that it is not running somewhere else? Id rather to perform the exact
steps, what is official.

I would contact MS to tell them (rather): take my old SN/activ. key, I used
first, and just destroy it! Because I am the only person who will use that
copy. But where to call? Say, how do you see my chance?

> It may be transferable, but the only way to know is to try it. If it has
> been 120 days since last activation, and it's good for any machine, it will
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> >> > Regards
> >> > Jan Mojzis

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Mark L. Ferguson - 11 Apr 2008 17:33 GMT

You are allowed to change machines, but Update will only work on the
'current activation' MS keeps records on it.

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Mark L. Ferguson
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> Yes youre correct. But what I am willing to know also, how it just knows
> that
[quoted text clipped - 58 lines]
>> >> > Regards
>> >> > Jan Mojzis

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Jan Mojzis - 11 Apr 2008 17:53 GMT

Ok. This however, is not very perspective to me. Now, it appears, I have no
choice, but to try step-by step hardware replacement (120 days, too much :(
). I am sure It can work, but when I last tried to make back-up of wpa.dbl
and then restore it back (complete uninstall, format and install) it not
worked and it had to been activated again through net. And I was told, that
once motherboard changed, I will lose many "votes" and XP should probably "be
messy" and think it is illegal, demanding activation again (but this time
with other HW...!?).

Anyway I though that someone in MS is just prepared for this case to help.
But alas...

> You are allowed to change machines, but Update will only work on the
> 'current activation' MS keeps records on it.
[quoted text clipped - 61 lines]
> >> >> > Regards
> >> >> > Jan Mojzis

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Ken Blake, MVP - 11 Apr 2008 18:40 GMT

> Hi there,
> should anybody please tell me if its possible to reinstall my old copy of
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> I want to remove Win from the old one and put it into a new machine. What
> about activation, is this portation possible?

No. You have an OEM version. 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).

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Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
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Ron1940 - 17 May 2008 15:53 GMT

> > Hi there,
> > should anybody please tell me if its possible to reinstall my old copy of
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> legally be moved to another computer, sold, or given away (except with
> the original computer).

Are you saying that if my old machine has been junked. Not Sold/not
working/parts removed for junk; that I can not use my OEM copy of WIN XP Home
on a new built machine. What does the OEM data stay with. The HDD, MB etc? So
I junk the $100 OEM version WIN XP Home?

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Bruce Chambers - 17 May 2008 16:28 GMT

> Are you saying that if my old machine has been junked. Not Sold/not
> working/parts removed for junk; that I can not use my OEM copy of WIN XP Home
> on a new built machine.

Correct. Although Ken isn't the one saying it. Those are the terms of
the EULA, to which you voluntarily agreed to be bound.

> What does the OEM data stay with. The HDD, MB etc?

The OEM license is permanently bound to the entire PC, as assembled at
the time of installation. It does not "stay with" any single component.

> So
> I junk the $100 OEM version WIN XP Home?

Pretty much, yes. This lack of transferability is the primary reason
and OEM license costs so little, compared to the transferable retail
license.

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Bruce Chambers

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