New XP license necessary?

[cogmission]

Hi
I have a valid copy of Win XP that I installed on my 2006 Macbook Pro. I know the answer is probably "yes" - but to make sure I think I'll ask anyway. Will I need to purchase a new copy of Win XP for my newly ordered Uni-body Macbook Pro or can I use my previous copy (never installed on any other machine) ?

 

[7on]

Hi
I have a valid copy of Win XP that I installed on my 2006 Macbook Pro. I know the answer is probably "yes" - but to make sure I think I'll ask anyway. Will I need to purchase a new copy of Win XP for my newly ordered Uni-body Macbook Pro or can I use my previous copy (never installed on any other machine) ?

I'd try it first. It may not activate, but you never know.

 

[cogmission]

I'd try it first. It may not activate, but you never know.

Thanks for your reply, but it still doesn't really answer my question. I will "try" it and see if it works - but as I'm kinda new to MBP gaming, I would just like to hear from the experts

 

[Huntn]

Hi
I have a valid copy of Win XP that I installed on my 2006 Macbook Pro. I know the answer is probably "yes" - but to make sure I think I'll ask anyway. Will I need to purchase a new copy of Win XP for my newly ordered Uni-body Macbook Pro or can I use my previous copy (never installed on any other machine) ?

My impression is that you can move that copy from one machine to the other. It's going to ask you to validate it. However, I don't know what effect that will have on your 06 MBP. You might have to talk to MS about it. My impression is that they expect you to have purchased a copy of XP for each machine your running it on. I think transferring it is ok, if you no longer plan to use it on the older machine.

 

[jbrenn]

legally it can only be on one computer but actually it will install on more. it will not het the other computer and since it has been installed on the other computer for a while you should be able to activate online. if you have to activate over the phone tell ms that you replaced the hd.

 

[mkrishnan]

My impression is that they expect you to have purchased a copy of XP for each machine your running it on. I think transferring it is ok, if you no longer plan to use it on the older machine.

The full answer is that it depends:

- If you get a copy shipped with a computer, it's typically an OEM copy that's not only locked to that computer, but often shipped on discs that will only install to that brand / model anyways.

- If you buy an OEM disc from a retailer such as Newegg, you become the OEM / system builder (this is why you are sometimes required / requested to buy a piece of hardware with the disc). Once again, in terms of legality, the disc becomes locked to the hardware.

- If you buy a retail disc, you're legally entitled to transfer it, meaning it can be used on any one computer at a time by you, but you are not obligated to keep it on just the one piece of hardware forever. The definition and expectation of "transfer" is that you either delete all other copies or you destroy the hardware that it was previously on. It may refuse your product activation key, though, and if you only have one / used up all the ones you have, then you just need to call MS and ask them to activate it. This happens also when you try to re-install it for different VM environments.

 

[JNB]

You may also try WinClone to "transfer" it; that would also alleviate downloading & installing patches & updates, reinstalling apps, etc.