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Dairy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 22, 2009
2
0
I have installed windows xp on my mac via VM software, when I go to log in I get an error message stating that it can't recognize the computer license. The xp disc came with my old pc and was for that computer. Is there anyway that this will work on my mac?
 

Dairy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 22, 2009
2
0
I wasn't asking to do anything illegal, I was asking if it would work?
 

ZachsMacDaddy

macrumors 6502
Dec 24, 2007
461
57
Maryland
Are you talking about an OEM version of Windows that has a sticker with the code on the bottom of the old laptop? If so, you're not going to be able to do it. If you find a work around to get it to work, then you would be breaking the license agreement.

The xp disc came with my old pc and was for that computer.

Sounds like OEM to me.

OEM OS installs are bound to the system they came on. I used to get requests all the time to take the OEM license from one laptop and move it to another one. Nobody understood the legal ramifications of doing that or that if they tried moving an OEM Dell install to a HP laptop, it would not work (or vice versa).
 

bobnugget

macrumors 6502
Nov 15, 2006
420
203
England
What the poster above me said. If you want to install windows on your mac, you'll have to go out and purchase a new copy.

Actually it will work. If your PC had XP Service Pack 1 (sounds like yours was) on it, it will require you to reactivate the license code with Microsoft. There is an option to activate over the phone. You'd have to lie and give them the obvious right answers. Of course, if you did this and it was an OEM disc, you'd be breaking your license agreement and probably the law too. If it isn't an OEM disc, go ahead and tell them you are installing on a new system. That is fine, and legal.

My new Unibody did this when I installed my copy of XP from my Mac Book Pro on it. Had to phone up to get it activated.
 

ZachsMacDaddy

macrumors 6502
Dec 24, 2007
461
57
Maryland
Actually it will work. If your PC had XP Service Pack 1 (sounds like yours was) on it, it will require you to reactivate the license code with Microsoft. There is an option to activate over the phone. You'd have to lie and give them the obvious right answers. Of course, if you did this and it was an OEM disc, you'd be breaking your license agreement and probably the law too.

Yup, it can be done, but it's wrong. Some may feel ok with stealing from Microsoft, but it's still stealing. No different from lying to Apple to get free fixes. But some seem to think it's ok to lie to Microsoft and not to Apple.
 
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