Re-using Windows XP?

[Lara F]

Sorry if this has been asked before.

In January 2006 my old Toshiba laptop's XP crashed. Unfortunately I didn't have my recovery discs on hand and was pressed for time, so I just got a new full copy of Windows XP SP2 and did a full re-install, registering the key with Microsoft.

Now that laptop has completely died (HD failure after 5 years) and I'm looking to replace it with a Macbook/MBP. Obviously I'd like to be able to re-use the XP I purchased with bootcamp, but is that possible after having registered it? I know supposedly it's not possible to use on more than one computer, but maybe that's at the same time? Is there some way to deactivate my previous install?

 

[Eidorian]

Is it a retail box or OEM?

 

[Lara F]

Retail.

 

[Eidorian]

Feel free to reuse it then.

 

[Lara F]

Thanks! So it'll be just like a first-time install then? No need to call Microsoft? I guess my worry was that I'd try to register and it'd say the key was already used.

 

[psingh01]

Thanks! So it'll be just like a first-time install then? No need to call Microsoft? I guess my worry was that I'd try to register and it'd say the key was already used.

You may still have to call, but just say your old computer died and your are installing on your new one. It's not like you are using it for multiple computers at the same time.