XP Pro on another computer

[mike12]

About three years ago I bought a DeLL Dimension 2400 from Dell. It came with XP Home, but I paid the extra $100 or so for XP Pro. The computer has now died (motherboard I believe). Anyway, I am thinking about buying another Dell off E-Bay. These Dells all have XP Home. My question--since the XP Pro really isn't on a working computer, can it be put on the next Dell I purchase ? I have the recovery CD from the first computer and all documentation including the 25 digit COA number. Thanks, Mike

[Dark Nova]

yeah you can put it on another dell, as long as its a dell and its 1liscence per copy then i suppose your fine, thought i dont think that your recovery cd will work on the new one

[mike12]

Dark Nova--thanks for the reply.
Since this seems perfectly legal, can it be done ? What would happen if I put the hard drive from the old computer into the new computer, and just used the new hard drive as a backup ?

[kev7555]

An XP install is specific to the hardware in the computer. Unless the new dell has exactly the same hardware, the old version will not boot on the new machine. You need to do a complete clean install of XP.

You should be able to do this with the old recovery disk but you will have to call Microsoft on the phone and explain the situation if it does not activate. Be sure to stress that the op system is installed on only one computer.

-Kev

[jayb1234]

If the XP pro was installed by Dell, the liscense is only good for the original box and can not be legally transferred to another build.

If you bought a seperate full liscensed version in addition to what Dell installed, that can be reused on another machine if it is removed from the first one.

[doubledragon5]

You can install it on another DEll.. I've done it. The only thing you might have to do is enter the product key for the new Dell...

[mike12]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I guess I will just have to try it for myself and see if it works when I get the new computer. If it doesn't work, then I will have to deceide if I want to get the upgrade later.

[jayb1234]

From the Microsoft Licensing FAQ page.

Q. May I transfer software from one PC to another? A. Again, this depends on the type of licence. Pre-installed software If the software is pre-installed, the software lives and dies with the PC and can never be transferred to another PC

From the windows EULA.

* Software as a Component of the Computer - Transfer. THIS LICENSE MAY NOT BE SHARED, TRANSFERRED TO OR USED CONCURRENTLY ON DIFFERENT COMPUTERS. The SOFTWARE is licensed with the COMPUTER as a single integrated product and may only be used with the COMPUTER. If the SOFTWARE is not accompanied by HARDWARE, you may not use the SOFTWARE. You may permanently transfer all of your rights under this EULA only as part of a permanent sale or transfer of the COMPUTER, provided you retain no copies, if you transfer the SOFTWARE (including all component parts, the media, any upgrades, this EULA and the Certificate of Authenticity), and the recipient agrees to the terms of this EULA.

The fact that some people will advise you to try to reuse a manufacturers OEM installation on another computer does not mean that it can be done legally.