Windows XP Activation?

t22han · Jul 21, 2006

I just installed windows xp on my macbook using a copy of windows from my previous Dell computer. The product key that came with the copy of windows doesn't seem to work when I try it on my macbook. Is there any way to activate windows on my macbook with this copy?

dohidied · Jul 21, 2006

No, you have to buy another purchase another license. The key that came with your Dell was for your Dell and only your Dell.

wind_man · Jul 22, 2006

Yeah, just ring Miscrosoft up, they give you a free phone number, you may have to blag it a bit. I've got XP working on 6 machines!!!

wind_man · Jul 22, 2006

All you have to try it by the internet first, then they give you a number to ring. If you have any more questions about this send me a message.

baggss · Jul 22, 2006

I'd be careful about bragging that you got 1 copy of XP to work on 6 machines. Software piracy, ANY software piracy, is very frowned upon in this forum and will get you banned very quickly.

Mathiau · Jul 25, 2006

yeah, if you have the same serial key on 6 comps your breaking the EULA and yes MS can see if you are using the same on all 6, wouldnt suprise me if one day 5 of your system shut down and wont start until you buy new keys.

wind_man · Jul 25, 2006

What you obviously realise is I don't have an OEM copy of XP... I own a full copy, which basically means I can install it onto 5 machines without any hassle. The 6th isn't connected to the internet is used as a PC for creating music.

schweb · Jul 25, 2006

Actually no wind_man, you're breaking the terms of the EULA and committing piracy. A full version of XP does NOT give you a license to install on 5 machines. We don't allow any discussion of piracy or illegal activity here. I'd strongly suggest you check the forum rules before you continue down this slippery slope.

wind_man · Jul 25, 2006

Ok, I'm sorry
I'm obviously in the wrong. I'm always skimming through the licencing rules. Gonna have to read a lot more closer from now on to avoid confusiod in the future.

Mathiau · Jul 25, 2006

the license in XP i beleive lets 5 other users connedt to your computer - such as if you ran IIS or a web server or other server, only 5 users could connect.

XP retail or OEM only entitles you to install the product on 1 computer.

And OEM copy is only to be installed on a single system and "by their rules" can not be moved to another system ever - retail can be put on new computer or diff ones , onyl one at a time, as often as you like.

wind_man · Jul 26, 2006

Mathiau said:
And OEM copy is only to be installed on a single system and "by their rules" can not be moved to another system ever - retail can be put on new computer or diff ones , onyl one at a time, as often as you like.

Microsoft will allow you to move your OEM copy over to another computer as long as you deactivate your other copy first. But you have to ring them up and they have to confirm all of this.

Been doing a little reasearch into Windows licencing.

Mathiau · Jul 26, 2006

the licensing i have read meant that if buying an OEM copy it is only to be installed on a single system and can not be moved, (OEM being the $130 dollar version with nothing fancy with it) Retail being he $300 version with all the nice packaging.

A retail copy however can be moved to any other system , as you said, as long as it is removed from the prior system

This is why you can not take say a Dell install Disk and use the key on another system, because it is licensed for installtion solely on that dell.

OEM and Retail disk use a different "code" base so to speak., an OEM code will not work with a Retail disk and vice versa, this is how MS knows if it is an OEM install or a Retail install.

mynameis · Jul 26, 2006

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/eula.mspx (MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION (RETAIL) EULA)

You may install, use, access, display and run one copy of the Software on a single computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other device ("Workstation Computer"). The Software may not be used by more than one processor at any one time on any single Workstation Computer.

Straight from Microsoft.

BlindingLights · Jul 27, 2006

So wait, can you uninstall XP from a computer and install it on another, and still be in the clear?

webbywebber · Jul 27, 2006

thats how I'd read that

baggss · Jul 27, 2006

The Software may not be used by more than one processor at any one time on any single Workstation Computer.

So technically, running it on a multi-processor machine is illegal....?

PowerBookG4 · Jul 27, 2006

baggss said:
So technically, running it on a multi-processor machine is illegal....?

Yeah I was goingi to ask that... Is that home or pro verson that has that EULA or are they the same?

baggss · Jul 27, 2006

The post says Home....

dtravis7 · Jul 27, 2006

Home is designed for a Single CPU machine. Always has been. So that explains that. As long as you have the Full Install of Home or Pro, You can reinstall it on another machine as long as you take it off your existing machine. When activating, you may have to talk to a Microsoft person and they will give you a new number. They will ask you if you are running it on any other machine. I used to change motherboards and CPU's all the time so am no stranger with talking to Microsoft.

PowerBookG4 · Jul 27, 2006

baggss said:
The post says Home....

my bad missed that part.