Windows xp SP3 64bit to windows 8 upgrade

Mart1ns

Mart1ns

Mart1ns

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10 Dec 2012
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Hi, basically I have an old Windows xp SP2/3 64bit lying around and I just recently ordered a new pc without an OS. I am just wondering if will I be able to uninstall the windows xp 64bit from the old machine, put it into the new one, activate it and then upgrade it to windows 8.
I have the cd key still but no CD's. I would probably borrow the xp CD from a friend and do it this way.
Would this work or should I just buy the windows 8 oem from a shop for £80?
 
I have used a unactivated copy of windows 7,and used that on a separate HDD and installed windows 8, windows 8 as far as I could see only looked for old versions of windows signature, I installed windows 8 on the new separate HDD activate windows 8, once this was done, I removed the unactivated copy of windows 7 HDD.

You will get an error when you reboot without the old version of windows HDD, but just put back in the windows 8 DVD and do a repair setup, and that is that.

I have kept the unactivated copy of windows 7 HDD for future use.

Hope this makes sense:D
 
Thanks for the reply, yes it makes sense but I will only have 1 HDD in my pc.
Just wondering, I cannot remember the email that I used to register windows xp with when I bought it years ago, will this matter for when I activate it on my new PC?
The pan is to upgrade it to windows 8 64bit (the virtual one from the microsoft website)
 
Can I only use OEM on a virgin pc (no operating system), or can I just buy the retail version and install it? eg windows 8 pro
I am confused as **** right now.
 
Hi you could partition the drive and put the old version of windows on one partition and windows 8 on the other, but whether you will be able to upgrade using the unactivated version of windows XP to download the upgrade version of windows 8 I honestly couldn’t tell you.
 
I think its OEM, I'm away from home atm so I am not sure but nearly 100% certain its OEM.
The question I have is can I only install OEM OS on a virgin system (no OS) or can I get a retail copy? As far as I know retail versions are only upgrades. :S:S
 
Mart1ns said:
Can I only use OEM on a virgin pc (no operating system), or can I just buy the retail version and install it? eg windows 8 pro
I am confused as **** right now.
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if u buy oem or upgrade u can install on a clean system

theres no win8 retail..

win8 oem = full license. same as win7 retail, basically
win8 upgrade = u need a valid previous os license
 
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Mart1ns said:
Okay thank you for clearing things up x
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your welcome.

tbh if you want it all legit go for win8 oem because your xp license isn't retail as u said. so you wouldn't be able to transfer the license from your old pc to your new pc that would mean it wouldn't be a valid license for the upgrade license.
 
I am still really confused with this whole OEM/retail concept.
From what I have understood OEM gets tied to the machine, and is meant for system builders who build from scratch, and you cannot use it to upgrade.
Retail can be installed like the OEM in virgin machines but can also be used to upgrade. But what is the definition of retail? I am not really sure what retail actually is, all I can see in websites with regards to windows 8 is that it is solely an upgrade, and if you want to install it in a virgin machine YOU HAVE TO get the OEM.
Microsoft's marketing has confused me, probably I am wrong and there is a version of windows 8 that I can use to install in my soon to be built machine, but I just cannot find it.
Sorry for the wall of text, I have to make a decision tonight in order to have an OS in time for christmas.
PS. Is this retail and NOT an upgrade? If it is thank god

Please help :/ Operating system installation is something I do not know much about, I thought i did.
 
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win8 oem and upgrade licenses has changed which means MS now allows you to transfer the license to a new pc/laptop, including if you upgrade your system.

the new win8 oem license is basically retail but renamed to oem

win7 oem is tied to the machine you first activated it on..

the one you've linked to is upgrade...

this is the one, http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SW-154-MS

p.s u should remove the link has posting links to other retailers are not allowed.
 
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Thanks for the reply, and sorry was only using the link as an example.
So basically if I upgrade windows xp into windows 8 on my old pc, I can transfer it to my new 1?
Thanks for the help so far x
 
Mart1ns said:
Thanks for the reply, and sorry was only using the link as an example.
So basically if I upgrade windows xp into windows 8 on my old pc, I can transfer it to my new 1?
Thanks for the help so far x
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if your going for the upgrade license (£24.99 online offer or £49 in stores) then no because your xp license would be the base license and has your xp license is oem you can't transfer it to your new pc....
 
gareth170 said:
is your windows xp retail or oem? if it's oem you can't transfer the license to your new pc.
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Legally you can't but, it can be done. I went from from AMD to Intel with an OEM copy of Win7. You simply ring a microsoft number, and deal with a computer auto-prompter. You select the option that you're re installing on the same computer, and then it reads out long series of activation codes you enter. It's that simple. Took 5 mins.
 
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neuk said:
Legally you can't but, it can be done. I went from from AMD to Intel with an OEM copy of Win7. You simply ring a microsoft number, and deal with a computer auto-prompter. You select the option that you're re installing on the same computer, and then it reads out long series of activation codes you enter. It's that simple. Took 5 mins.
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yes we all know that... but Legally you can't, and has we are on public forums I like to give legit info..

also just because it activates doing that doesn't mean it's licensed. if you go down that rote you should just get a pirate copy tbh.
 
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gareth170 said:
yes we all know that... but Legally you can't, and has we are on public forums I like to give legit info..

also just because it activates doing that doesn't mean it's licensed. if you go down that rote you should just get a pirate copy tbh.
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MS seems to turn a blind eye to it as long as you bought a licensed copy at some point. He bought the original license and is paying for the upgrade to 8 so, it's not the same as getting a pirate copy tbh.
 
neuk said:
MS seems to turn a blind eye to it as long as you bought a licensed copy at some point. He bought the original license and is paying for the upgrade to 8 so, it's not the same as getting a pirate copy tbh.
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but the point is Legally you can't transfer any previous OEM OS to new/upgraded systems.

also MS may turn a blind eye to it but when u call MS and enter the activate id most of the time it puts u throw to a live person and then people lie when MS ask whats the reason your reactivating. if you say the truth that you've bought a new pc or upgraded your motherboard ect and want to transfer the license to it they'll most likely say no sorry u can't. it happened to a friend of mine..

yes he (OP) has bought the original license but it's tied to the first system he activated it on. so it's not a valid license for his new pc and for win8 upgrade.

it's like saying I bought a pc with win7 pre installed but I want to transfer the license to another system. which clearly you can't do that legally.
 
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