Can i re-use a windows licence that comes with a new pc

dean_ham

dean_ham

dean_ham

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My Dell pc has called it a day by the looks of things....

I have the windows xp disk and key with the pc....

Can i re use this and use it for my new build as i will not be using my DELL pc cause its going in the skip lol

Thanks

Dean
 
dell keys DONT activate with non dell xp disc, pretty sure i tested what you're asking the other week -installed dellxpoem on a nondell machine

worked fine, and didn't moan about activation

not sure how legal it is though.. the dell machine was also broken
 
dean_ham said:
My Dell pc has called it a day by the looks of things....

I have the windows xp disk and key with the pc....

Can i re use this and use it for my new build as i will not be using my DELL pc cause its going in the skip lol

Thanks

Dean
Click to expand...
No.
 
um presumably its an oem copy and the mainboard has failed therefore a 'replacement' is allowed and you can install it.

I installed a recovery disc onto a new pc, had to phone ms but all was hunky-dory
#


waits for MR Burnsey to put me straight for being on the wrong side of THE LAW (as written by microsoft - terms and conditions apply) ;)
 
Slam62 said:
um presumably its an oem copy and the mainboard has failed therefore a 'replacement' is allowed and you can install it.

I installed a recovery disc onto a new pc, had to phone ms but all was hunky-dory
#


waits for MR Burnsey to put me straight for being on the wrong side of THE LAW (as written by microsoft - terms and conditions apply) ;)
Click to expand...

No - it's not on the wrong side of The Law.
However it is in breach of the terms & conditions of the license that you agreed to.
But hay - you're obviously far too big and clever to worry about something like that so go for it.
 
Set up my new system, installed XP with the dell windows xp disc - no problems

Now its asking to activate, and its not accepting the key that came with my dell machine, saying its invalid ! Do i phone up M$ and ask them to resolve the problem? I get an error code aswell but ive forgot to write it down, ill get it when i restart the pc again :(

Any ideas guys?
 
bledd. said:
its probably realising its not a dell motherboard

just buy xphome or xpmce from ocuk mate :)
Click to expand...

Hmm yea i can see me doing that :( might give ms a ring tomorrow and explain the situation, see what they can do for me. Basically its gutting that due to the fact that my pc has decided to call it a day i even have to buy a brand new OS which i already own and have the cd etc etc :(

to put it simple ms has us by the b**ls, lol

any ideas guys!
 
The same thing happened with my sister's dell PC after I had replaced the motherboard (it also said invalid). I phoned the Microsoft windows activation phone number and after getting through to a customer service person (iirc it's ** or ## to get straight through) it was activated manually in exactly the same way as a normal OEM or retail copy of Windows XP (I've done it many times with DELL/OEM/Retail copy of Windows due to always changing hardware or fixing others systems).

Microsoft will allow you to activate it via their phone activation system so no point in wasting money on another copy IMHO. :D
 
Slam62 said:
um presumably its an oem copy and the mainboard has failed therefore a 'replacement' is allowed and you can install it.

I installed a recovery disc onto a new pc, had to phone ms but all was hunky-dory
#


waits for MR Burnsey to put me straight for being on the wrong side of THE LAW (as written by microsoft - terms and conditions apply) ;)
Click to expand...

Well you did ask.

OEM licences are non-transferable, therefore it is supposed to be thrown away with the Dell machine.

As for the replacement motherboard? That's also out the window as it's not under a 'warranty claim'.

So yes, it would be unlawful for you to install Windows on another PC without another licence.

This is not to say that you couldn't activate the OEM product key on the new machine, you possibly could, but that would be a copyright infringment.

Burnsy

Edit: Oh btw, its all in the sticky that nobody reads.
 
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str said:
The same thing happened with my sister's dell PC after I had replaced the motherboard (it also said invalid). I phoned the Microsoft windows activation phone number and after getting through to a customer service person (iirc it's ** or ## to get straight through) it was activated manually in exactly the same way as a normal OEM or retail copy of Windows XP (I've done it many times with DELL/OEM/Retail copy of Windows due to always changing hardware or fixing others systems).

Microsoft will allow you to activate it via their phone activation system so no point in wasting money on another copy IMHO. :D
Click to expand...


now thats handy to know :)

when i called up before, they fobbed me off with 'ring your pc supplier', should've called them up again
 
bledd. said:
now thats handy to know :)

when i called up before, they fobbed me off with 'ring your pc supplier', should've called them up again
Click to expand...

Please realise, that you are using pirated software even though MS has allowed you to activate. They have absoluetly no obligation to allow you to continue using the software.

Burnsy
 
But it was only relatively recently that Microsoft stated an OEM version of Windows XP couldn't be reinstalled/activated in a system that has had it's motherboard replaced so the majority of OEM versions will be fine seeing as they were bought before that decision was made. :)

As for it being a pirate copy, it's a legitimate CD, a legitimate licence key and Microsoft have activated it via their phone activation system. How can you say it's a pirate copy? :eek:
 
str said:
But it was only relatively recently that Microsoft stated an OEM version of Windows XP couldn't be reinstalled/activated in a system that has had it's motherboard replaced so the majority of OEM versions will be fine seeing as they were bought before that decision was made. :)
Click to expand...

Microsoft didn't change their policy or licence, they just clarified what the previous EULA had said. Both said that you couldn't transfer machine. MS have just said what a 'machine' is. People were worried that any hardware change could invalidate their licence. You could go on that assumpton, but I'm sure you'd want a small upgrade in the future :)

str said:
As for it being a pirate copy, it's a legitimate CD, a legitimate licence key and Microsoft have activated it via their phone activation system. How can you say it's a pirate copy? :eek:
Click to expand...

I can say it's a pirated copy quite easily. There are many reasons why doing so will break the EULA. I could go through them all, but I won't. I will say however, that for a OEM licence to be valid the COA must be intact and attached to the case. Which in this case it's not.

Also
XP OEM EULA said:
THIS LICENSE MAY NOT BE SHARED,
TRANSFERRED TO OR USED CONCURRENTLY ON
DIFFERENT COMPUTERS.
The SOFTWARE is licensed with the COMPUTER as a single
integrated product and may only be used with the COMPUTER.
If the SOFTWARE is not accompanied by HARDWARE,
you may not use the SOFTWARE. You may permanently
transfer all of your rights under this EULA only as
part of a permanent sale or transfer of the COMPUTER,
provided you retain no copies, if you transfer
the SOFTWARE (including all component parts, the media,
any upgrades, this EULA and the Certificate of Authenticity),
and the recipient agrees to the terms of this EULA.
Click to expand...

So how can I say it's pirated? Surprisingly easily.

Burnsy
 
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I know of someone who bought OEM Windows XP (with a mouse as the HARDWARE). He didn't realise the COA was all that significant and it ended up in the bin before it was installed (the COA was attached to the outside of the cellophane wrapping). He phoned Microsoft and explained what he had done and over the phone he was provided with a replacement product key. They said they were surprised he was able to buy the OEM Windows XP with a mouse but were still happy to deal with him and sort out his problem. :D

He hasn't the COA attached to his case and I highly doubt Microsoft care about it. ;)

When it comes to individual interpretation of the EULA which is ambiguous anyway Microsoft probably don't care all that much (more so they want companies to adhere to it) and likely it doesn't mean that much to the average joe either anyway.
 
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