Upgrade question

[markweatherill]

This is probably a silly question:

I'd like to install Windows 8 64-bit on my PC that currently has XP Pro 32-bit.

I'd like to clone my current XP installation onto another hard drive and use it afterwards in a dual boot, at least as a backup in case it all goes wrong.

If I buy the £49.99 Windows 8 Pro DVD, I assume I can use XP as a qualifying OS and do a fresh install of Windows 8 64-bit on my main hard drive.

Will this invalidate the XP licence key? It's OK if it does, I have a spare. But will it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[eddyc]

I am pretty sure that if you have used an XP licence key to qualify you for the upgrade price for win8 then you are not supposed to continue using the xp key on a different machine. I don't know if they can actually stop you but pretty sure it would be against the terms of the licence.

On a side node you shouldn't need to buy the DVD. You can get the £25 download version and then burn it to a dvd if you like. Pretty sure that should work.