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Built-in OS question

MattieMattie Registered User regular
edited January 2007 in Help / Advice Forum
I bought a new PC with Windows XP built in and a free upgrade to Vista when it comes out. I'd like to put XP on an older machine and have Vista on my new one, but is it possible to get the Windows XP CD from either Microsoft or the retailer?

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Mattie on

Posts

  • MalkorMalkor Registered User regular
    edited January 2007
    Mattie wrote:
    I bought a new PC with Windows XP built in and a free upgrade to Vista when it comes out. I'd like to put XP on an older machine and have Vista on my new one, but is it possible to get the Windows XP CD from either Microsoft or the retailer?

    If you're lucky you'll get a backup disk which will reinstall the image of the computer's original configuration. Im not sure, but if you look on the computer and see a password etc. you might be able to use any XP CD and legally install it on another computer. Microsoft has this service where you can download ISOs, when you input the password and other identification, but I don't remember the link or specifics.

    Malkor on
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  • RuckusRuckus Registered User regular
    edited January 2007
    If I remember correctly, the oem licenses for upgrade editions basically allow you to use either the current or future OS on that computer, you can't use both at the same time.

    Besides that, I've seen OEM's sell a computer with a Windows XP installation key affixed to the case, but Windows 2000 installed (same sort of deal, Windows 2000 now, XP when you want to upgrade).

    So in that situation, it's easy to install the newest OS, but you can't really go back to the original OS because you don't have a legit key around to install it.

    Ruckus on
  • MalkorMalkor Registered User regular
    edited January 2007
    Yeah, Im looking at one of the stickers right now and it says Windows Professional XP, what does yours actually say Mattie.

    Malkor on
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  • MattieMattie Registered User regular
    edited January 2007
    Malkor wrote:
    Yeah, Im looking at one of the stickers right now and it says Windows Professional XP, what does yours actually say Mattie.

    Theres a sticker that says Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with a product key. So if I can find the CD for that then I can use the key to install it on my other PC?

    Mattie on
    3DS Code 0001-3323-2884
    Xbox Live Gamertag: Suplex86
  • blincolnblincoln Registered User regular
    edited January 2007
    Not legally, no.

    OEM Windows licenses like that don't transfer from machine to machine. That's part of the reason they're so cheap compared to the full version.

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  • sarksark Registered User regular
    edited January 2007
    If you've already activated that product key on one machine, it's not going to activate on a different machine unless their hardware is identical.

    What blincoln said too.

    sark on
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  • MattieMattie Registered User regular
    edited January 2007
    sark wrote:
    If you've already activated that product key on one machine, it's not going to activate on a different machine unless their hardware is identical.

    What blincoln said too.

    The other PC won't be hooked up to the net. Does that matter?

    Mattie on
    3DS Code 0001-3323-2884
    Xbox Live Gamertag: Suplex86
  • RuckusRuckus Registered User regular
    edited January 2007
    Mattie wrote:
    sark wrote:
    If you've already activated that product key on one machine, it's not going to activate on a different machine unless their hardware is identical.

    What blincoln said too.

    The other PC won't be hooked up to the net. Does that matter?

    The OS still needs to be activated via phone. Automatic activation by internet or modem, or voice interface at the activation center, works a few times for each key on the same hardware, but if the hardware changes or is activated automatically repeatedly, the product will only activate with a activation key provided by a live MS Call center agent, who basically tries to ascertain why the key is getting reactivated repeatedly.

    Ruckus on
  • MalkorMalkor Registered User regular
    edited January 2007
    Do... you work at Microsoft? Could you pay a few extra bucks to upgrade your liscence for another computer instead of buying a whole new copy of XP? If Vista upgrade isn't he still entitled to run Media Center in some form without dual booting? Just asking 'cause Im curious and have a few comps lying around.

    Malkor on
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  • RuckusRuckus Registered User regular
    edited January 2007
    No, I don't work for Microsoft, I've just become intimately aquainted with their licensing methods through corporate experience (read: Anal Rappage).

    The Upgrade licensing scheme basically says that you can have version A of the software, then when you get a license for version B, you get it at reduced price or for free, but your license for A no longer exists. You still have to keep the discs and key from version A around for some upgrade editions, to prove that you owned it and have legitimately upgraded.

    In this case Windows XP is more of a Loaner OS until the OS you purchased is available.

    Ruckus on
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