XP license from Toshiba notebook to DIY Desktop?

[Jeff Lam]

Can I use the XP home license that came with my toshiba laptop (now broken) anp install and register it in a do it yourself desktop PC or is that particular license bound to that toshiba laptop? I have an OEM XP disk I can use to install it but I need to use the XP home key from the toshiba laptop. Will they allow me to do that?

[Panama Red]

Technically, no. That license belongs to the laptop - even when it's dead and buried.

[Jeff Lam]

I thought the product key would be bound to that copy of XP not nessisarily the computer hardware itself. Well, anyway... Are you saying the product key wont work and register properly with microsoft or Im just not suposed to use it on another PC?

[EzyStvy]

Dell cd's for example will only work on a pc with a Dell BIOS. Toshiba is probably the same way.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lam I thought the product key would be bound to that copy of XP not nessisarily the computer hardware itself. Well, anyway... Are you saying the product key wont work and register properly with microsoft or Im just not suposed to use it on another PC?

Getting XP to load on a different pc isn't the issue. Even IF you do get it to load with an OEM copy of XP, you'll only be able to use it for 30 days cuz you won't be able to activate it. Activation records the core hardware to that key. That's why changing a hdd, cd drive or mobo will often require reactivation. Since Toshiba only builds laptops, you'll be hard pressed to conivice MS you changed the mobo to a desktop unit! Plus, you won't be able to use Windows Updates until it's activated because Windows Genuine Advantage will have to be loaded first and it will "see" the lack of activation and block further updating.

The Product Keys are not tied to the disk, rather to the TYPE of disk. OEM, Retail and Upgrade disks all use a different series of product keys. If the key was tied to the origianal CD, you wouldn't be able to make Slipstreamed disks with SP2 and SP3 added and use them to reload XP. I do that all the time. Some machines require calling MS to activate tho. It's my understanding that Dell, HP and others load the os's using an image at the factory and the Product Key sticker on the side of the case doesn't even match what you find when using Belarc or a key finder program. Reloading with a Restore Disk will often only work on a machine of the same brand as the disk because all the drivers have to be the same as the hardware and it may be tied to the bios too. (like Svy mentioned) Toshiba only supplies Restore disks and gives you no option for a repair install or non destructive recovery.

Bottom line = buy a new legit copy with a product key

[Hi Ho]

If that XP based Toshiba laptop is anything like my Vista based Toshiba I see no reason why it would not work. My laptop came with restore discs but I used my OEM Vista disk to reinstall using the CD key on the laptop. As far as I know the Toshiba CD key is not tied to any type of disc, unlike Dell.

[glc]

Hi Ho, the OP wants to do the exact opposite. That won't work. The key on the laptop is tied to Toshiba.

[Hi Ho]

Is it tied to the BIOS? If not, I see no reason why it wouldn't work on a DIY machine.

[juppy]

Don't most manufacturers of prebuilts use the OEM version of XP? If so, I wouldn't think it would matter if it's tied to the bios or not, because OEM versions are meant to be installed only on one machine, EVER. So, if they use the OEM version, the bios tying is a non-issue.