Windows licence question…

_Jimlad_ · 24 Sep 2007 at 10:08

Hey guys, if I have brought a laptop off someone and it has a windows XP key sticker on the back, does that mean I have a licence? I don’t have any disc’s but wondered on how I stood with licences?

The_KiD · 24 Sep 2007 at 10:27

Yes it means the laptop came with and OEM license.

So you can install Windows using that license key.

_Jimlad_ · 24 Sep 2007 at 10:30

good news! so it does not matter where i get a xp disc from? if i use that key code i'm safe?

tom_e · 24 Sep 2007 at 10:36

theres a good chance that your key will be tied to a certain OEM's windows disc so if its a dell laptop you will need a dell cd or if its a HP laptop you will need a HP cd and so on

Berserker · 24 Sep 2007 at 10:40

Yup - though it's only the big manufacturers that do that (Dell and HP in particular). Also, I think it's still true that you're supposed to have a certificate of authenticity as well as the key to be totally legal. How many people take notice of the bits of paper that come with their CDs is another matter though.

Burnsy2023 · 24 Sep 2007 at 11:24

Berserker said:
Also, I think it's still true that you're supposed to have a certificate of authenticity as well as the key to be totally legal. .

The COA IS the product key

Yes, you are licensed, but like has been said, depending on the OEM, you may have difficulty getting media.

Burnsy

_Jimlad_ · 24 Sep 2007 at 13:55

cheers chaps!