XP Product key question

Bigdogbmx

Bigdogbmx

Bigdogbmx

Associate
Joined
25 Sep 2003
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456
Location
Leeds
I just needed to ask if you are allowed to use the XP Home product key from one laptop which isnt in use any more on one that is? I was given a friends laptop to look at and went to reinstall windows, but when I got to the stage where I needed to type in the key the sticker with it on had been removed. I have an old dead laptop with an XP Home license on it and wondered if I could just use that one being as its not actually in use on the dead one any more.

Any help much appreciated, George.
 
If the machine doesn't die (you upgrade most of the components) you can probably call up MS and get it reactivated. I did this with vista, I put it on my old machine then decided I needed a new Motherboard, CPU, RAM, Graphics, Sound & PSU to run it at a half decent speed. I called them up and said I had a hard disk faliure and they were fine with it. Although it seems all you need to do is sneeze to deactivate vista with the reports of drivers deactivating it.
 
Hey RobH, regarding activating Windows Vista, theirs often quite a misconception regarding the licenses. Just because you can physically do something does not make it legal.

If you buy Windows Vista OEM, install it on one machine and then activate it, your copy of Vista is then tied to that particular system. You can change any component in that system apart from the motherboard and you will still be using your copy of Windows legally.

Now if you decide to change your motherboard for various reasons (Excluding a motherboard failure), to stay legal, im afraid you will have to buy a new copy of Windows Vista. Though this is not to say that you can not use your existing copy of Windows, install it and then ring up Microsoft and get them to activate it for you by telling them a porky pie but by doing so you would have just broken the EULA. Even though Microsoft have actually activated your copy of Windows for you, they would not of done if you had said the truth. (Now weather this bothers you or not is up to you but that’s what the EULA states im afraid).
 
Last edited:
Fire Wizard said:
Hey RobH, regarding activating Windows Vista, their is a bit of a difference in what you can do physically compared to following the EULA and staying legal.

If you buy Windows Vista OEM, install it on one machine and then activate it, your copy of Vista is then tied to that particular system. You can change any component in that system apart from the motherboard and you will still be using your copy of Windows legally.

Now if you decide to change your motherboard for various reasons (Excluding a motherboard failure), to stay legal, im afraid you will have to buy a new copy of Windows Vista. Though this is not to say that you can not use your existing copy of Windows, install it and then ring up Microsoft and tell them a porky pie :p to get them to activate it for you, but by doing so you will then be using Windows illegally. (Now weather this bother's you or not is up to you but that is what the EULA states) :)
Click to expand...

Only if it starts raining, as my pc would get wet.
 
Breaking the EULA isn't going to keep me awake at night :) I'm sure there's plenty of ways to violate it by doing everyday activites on your computer.
 
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