Uninstall XP, reuse Product Key?

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ipsyd - 15 Mar 2007 02:09 GMT

I bought a full install of Windows XP Home to run in a Virtual Machine on my
Mac, for a short term need only. I also have an old Win98 PC that my wife
uses from time to time. Once I no longer need Windows on my Mac, I want to
install XP on that box using the same Product Key. Can I do that? Any issues
I need to be aware of, esp. regarding activation? (I have activated the
install on the Mac.)

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Claymore - 15 Mar 2007 02:42 GMT

> I bought a full install of Windows XP Home to run in a Virtual Machine on my
> Mac, for a short term need only. I also have an old Win98 PC that my wife
> uses from time to time. Once I no longer need Windows on my Mac, I want to
> install XP on that box using the same Product Key. Can I do that? Any issues
> I need to be aware of, esp. regarding activation? (I have activated the
> install on the Mac.)

Yes. Your license allows you to install it on one machine at a time.
Uninstall the first installation and install on the other machine. At
activation, you will be asked to call the 800 number where you can
tell them what you are doing. If all goes well, you'll be done in 5
minutes.
Suggest you do a clean install on the 98 machine, first saving all
needed date, email, favorites, address book, documents etc. first to
another drive or removable media.

Luck!

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peter - 15 Mar 2007 02:46 GMT

You will of course need to uninstall from the Mac first and then install
into your wifes machine.
If the automatic Activation does not work then you will need to phone MS and
expalin the new installation....which should not be a problem......so long
its not an OEM version.
peter

>I bought a full install of Windows XP Home to run in a Virtual Machine on
>my
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> I need to be aware of, esp. regarding activation? (I have activated the
> install on the Mac.)

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Rock - 15 Mar 2007 10:48 GMT

You say a full install, but that doesn't describe the important issue. Is
it an OEM copy or a retail copy? If OEM, then by the license it's tied to
the first computer on which it's installed and can't be moved to a different
computer. If it's a retail copy, then yes it can be installed on a
different computer after first uninstalling it from the original system.

Signature

Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

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Ron1940 - 17 May 2008 03:47 GMT

> >I bought a full install of Windows XP Home to run in a Virtual Machine on
> >my
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> computer. If it's a retail copy, then yes it can be installed on a
> different computer after first uninstalling it from the original system.

Does this mean; if I am junking out my old machine with a OEM version of WIN
XP Home; that I can no longer use this version on a new virtual machine?
I am changing motherboard, cpu, video card, sound card, HDD, & power supply.
What do I do; Just junk the OEM version along with the other junk componets

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GHalleck - 17 May 2008 08:07 GMT

>>>I bought a full install of Windows XP Home to run in a Virtual Machine on
>>>my
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> I am changing motherboard, cpu, video card, sound card, HDD, & power supply.
> What do I do; Just junk the OEM version along with the other junk componets

If that is what is written exactly in the EULA, then it is so.

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Colin Barnhorst - 17 May 2008 16:34 GMT

The OEM license dies with the machine.

>>>>I bought a full install of Windows XP Home to run in a Virtual Machine
>>>>on my
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> If that is what is written exactly in the EULA, then it is so.

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