XP license transfer

[BFD Deadeye]

Hi gang,
A client of mine recently had me build them a new machine. They ran XP Pro for only a few months on the old machine before it died. I suggested then to let me contact Microsoft, and see about a transfer. He decided to go with XP Home instead. So I installed it. Now he decides that Home doesn't do everything he wants it to. He wants Pro again. Now I have a few questions:

1) can Home be upgraded to Pro without a reformat?
2) Will Microsoft even entertain the idea of a license transfer?
3) if #2 is yes, can I have them negate the Home version so I can install it on a another machine for him?
4) anybody have a phone number for Microsoft?

If I have to buy Pro again, it will be two copies of Pro and 1 copy of Home in 3 or 4 months for them.

Thank you brilliant minds of PCMECH!

[icallmedan]

1) I don't think so
2) Why would you have to contact them.....I mean I guess if you want to make sure everything is 100%, but I would say just install it, because as long as the liscense is only on 1 computer, I don't think you are violating the EULA, and when you install, just don't register the product again.
3)
4)Just search around the MS website.

[BFD Deadeye]

Thanks for the reply. It was always my understanding that XP was tied to the hardware of whatever computer it was on. Too much of an upgrade, and it would be a problem; let alone a whole new machine. Am I wrong?

[bailey]

1. yes home can be upgraded to pro

2 you will need to activate it, and when you do then the system will display the phone number.

all you will need to do if anything at all is to explaine what you did, they will give you the new key if needed.

[BFD Deadeye]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Bailey! I like my clients smiling...this will make him smile.