1 OS on 2 PCs?

[mthomas99]

Currently i have Windows XP home edition SP2 on this PC--

I am going to make a new PC and install the same windows XP home edition on that PC, using the same CD key I used for this PC.

Will this be possible or will I need to buy another Windows XP home edition SP2 operating system, for the new PC?

 

[pscowboy]

You cannot run the same XP on two different machines at the same time.

You will be able to activate both, but will get updates & patches on only one. The specific combo of hardware & your CD key will allow only one registration.

 

[mthomas99]

so how do you move windows XP from one hard drive to the next? say i upgraded my current hard drive and still wanted to use the same win XP home key and get UPDATES and such still?[/u][/b]

 

[pscowboy]

That's a whole different scenario.

Using a good backup program which allows you to choose a "Disaster Recovery" mode; make this so with your old drive (don't forget to print out the instructions for doing the D/R properly). Replace the old with the new and run the D/R. And, you're good to go. Same system on a better hard drive.

You must, however, use this new drive IN THE SAME MACHINE!

XP is okay with hd changes. This is not a major hardware move.

If you put this new hard drive in a new comp after the D/R, it will NOT work.

 

[Pimp]

I have the full retail versions of both Xp Home and Pro. I was able to activate my copies in several computers. It finally stopped me and gave me a number to call to activate. I called Microsoft and they said that I get 10 activations. They then reset it and gave me 10 more. I was able to download updates on both systems. Another way to get around this is to get your windows updates from this site http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/ This site is also good if you do not want to re-validate your Windows installation, but still want to download all the extra windows programs and drivers that you find on Windows Update.

 

[slvr_phoenix]

That would be the difference between retail and OEM versions. Although I should report you for piracy. :tongue:

 

[Pimp]

Although I should report you for piracy. :tongue:

I have retail versions of both. Purchased for me by Microsoft employees through the retail store for $40 each. That's not piracy. What are you talking about?

 

[fishmahn]

Do you have separate licenses for each PC? How many PC's? How many INDIVIDUAL licenses for XP do you have? If they don't match, that is piracy. Read the license agreement. I says you can have it on 1 computer (some EULA's have a home use exemption that allows a second copy to be installed).

Mike.

 

[TunaSoda]

What if you built two identical pc's, same mb/hdd/vid card ect... connected to the same router using the same IP?

 

[Pimp]

I have never actually read the liscense agreement. I only have them running on one machine at a time. It's just that each machine has been completely changed several times. Everything, and the old parts sold off. The only time I had a problem, is when I pulled the harddrive out of my Pro rig and threw it in the Home one and tried to boot it up. It then said that I had to call MS. I called and told them the problem, and they reset it for me. Microsoft seams to be rather fair. They have been for me anyway.

 

[fishmahn]

So you have 1 machine currently running for each license? But you've used that license on a bunch of machines in the past - serially, only 1 machine was a workable computer at any time (per license)? In that case, that's not piracy.

What it sounded like you were saying was you have a row of 10 PC's - or somehting like that - all wiwth the same license of windows... That is definitely piracy.

Mike.