Win XP Home OEM: Can I move it to a new machine?

[Chupa Chupa]

Here's the deal:

I'd like to install BootCamp & Win XP Home OEM on a dedicated drive in my MP. Depending on what the next MP specs are I may or may not upgrade in the next 6 months, or whenever the next MP is released. Could I take the BootCamp/Win XP drive and pop it in the new machine or does it have to live and die in the originally installed machine? I know you can't do this w/ Vista, but not sure what XP will do?

 

[weckart]

OEM is OEM. In theory you cannot. Anecdotal evidence points to people getting away with transferring the licence to a new machine for XP. Microsoft said it would be clamping down on this with Vista. In all probability, this will be the case going forward with XP, too, since the takeup on Vista has been so disappointing.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Technically, it should work. It will insist on running through re-activation, which will fail, and you will have to call Microsoft to explain that you have moved it completely to a new computer, and removed it from the old computer.

License-wise, it is not supposed to be okay. The license does lock the license to the hardware that the software was sold with. This means that you theoretically aren't even allowed to, for example, buy it all by itself; but you have to buy it with a piece of hardware. And THAT piece of hardware must be in the computer that the copy of Windows is installed on. (One particularly iffy trick is to buy the copy of Windows with a mouse, then you can just move the mouse from computer to computer.)

 

[vistafanboi]

Technically, it should work. It will insist on running through re-activation, which will fail, and you will have to call Microsoft to explain that you have moved it completely to a new computer, and removed it from the old computer.

License-wise, it is not supposed to be okay. The license does lock the license to the hardware that the software was sold with. This means that you theoretically aren't even allowed to, for example, buy it all by itself; but you have to buy it with a piece of hardware. And THAT piece of hardware must be in the computer that the copy of Windows is installed on. (One particularly iffy trick is to buy the copy of Windows with a mouse, then you can just move the mouse from computer to computer.)

Just so all will know, OEM licenses are NOT supposed to be transferred to a second machine. The Window OEM EULA (End User License Agreement) specifically states this. Don't believe me?
1) Open Windows.
2) Click on Start Button.
3) From the Run Dialog, enter the command "winver", then press Enter.

The version will be displayed in a largish dialog. In that dialog will be a link labeled "Microsoft Software License terms"

Click on it, and the EULA will be displayed. READ IT. You will be enlightened greatly. While the older EULAs were filled with great amounts of 'legalese", the Vista EULA is a little clearer.

My experience has been, however, that Microsoft Activation techs tends to be much more liberal than the License states. This is probably because of all the negative publicity Microsoft has gotten over the years. While I do not advise one to commit software piracy, you will find it is much easier to re-activate your software via telephone than the horror stories indicate.

I'm almost positive that the license techs are instructed to do all they can to make sure a re-activation call has a positive outcome for the user. I've never been turned down for an activation after making a phone call, and I've installed (and activated) OEM copies of XP and Vista just about all ways they can be installed and activated.

Of course, I'm just a user, and not an employee of Microsoft, so I really can't be more specific. You will just have to take your chances with the rest of us.


Please keep these facts in mind:
1) An Activation Tech is NOT supposed to ask for ANY personal information before, during, and after activation. If he or she asks, politely remind them of this fact. If they still insist on it, demand to speak with their supervisor, and inform them of their attempted breach of your privacy and security.
2) Do NOT be confused by the differences between "REGISTRATION" and "ACTIVATION". "Registration" requires entry of personal information, but is NOT mandatory, or even necessary, to exercise your rights under the EULA. "Activation" IS mandatory, but requires NO personal information to complete.
3) Unless you Activate your copy of Windows, you will NOT be able to use your OS beyond the 30 day grace period. It will only work in "Safe Mode" if not Activated within 30 days. You don't want this to happen, I assure you, so Activate your software.

VistaFanBoi
-----------------------------------------------
My current hardware:

Apple Intel iMac 20" (Gen2)
You probably know the rest.

 

[Benhorle]

This may help

I was told by the man at Microsoft when I asked him about moving my OEM OS to a new motherboard, He said that I couldn't upgrade as that would be a breach of contract, But he then went onto say if I was replacing the board because it was "faulty" that would be OK.
I took the hint and explained that I repaired my computer my self with a new Mobo to the activation team and they sorted me out.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

I have had to call to do telephone activation a few times recently.

The only question they ask: "Is this copy of Windows installed on any other computers?" or "How many computers is this copy of Windows installed on?"

Don't give a long story; they don't care. All they care about is getting the proper answer. ("No" for the first question "One" for the second.) That's it.

 

[illegallydead]

The short, technically legally correct answer: NO.

The true answer: yes, but it can sometimes be tricky. Depending on the disk you have, it may do one of many things to activate:

1) Ask for a COA code, like the one that is on the shiny sticker on some (older?) Dells and such (at least that I know of). In this case, you will need that code to activate.

2) It will check your unique hardware ID's and cross-check them with M$. In theory, if most or all of the IDs match, you are "just re-installing" and you don't have to do anything else. In this instance, if you are trying to get the OEM copy to work, you will likely have to call up M$ (through the "I don't have internet" option during activation) and hope that you can sweet-talk your way into a good code (I think someone mentioned how, just say you are re-installing, and make like you don't have it installed anywhere else, which may be the truth if you are no longer using the old machine)

3) Something else. These are the only two things I have personally ran into. There are of course more.

In the end, the moral of the story is this: try to get the OEM to work, if not, buy a copy or steal one like everyone else does. Since you are trying to technically "steal" this copy, it would certainly not be a huge moral leap to just go out and get a .torrent of an un-monitored / cracked copy... That being said, I will obviously not publicly condone (on this site anyway) the act of doing so. That is illegal and bad and you will totally burn in eternal hellfire for doing it

 

[Stridder44]

No.

Even if you somehow magically could, it's a bad idea.