I bought a laptop and didnt come with the XP cd and i need to reformat it. I was wondering if i can use my XP cd for my other computer to reinstall XP on the laptop?
2007-01-13 01:57:45 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Hello there,
You probably can but it is Illegal. You should purchase a full copy of Windows XP Professional or Home Editions.
If you want some of a challenge, you can download Linux from just about anywhere, for free, and use it for free. It is a bit different but does most and more than a PC with XP on it.
You will probably have problems with drivers for that laptop. Windows XP only comes with some drivers, not all of them. Because of that, you may have to visit the vendor of the laptops web site to download drivers
If you right click on My Computer, select "Manager" then goto "Device Manager" you will see a yellow ? next to all the devices it does not know about. Usually it is things like video cards, Modems, Network Cards, etc. Again, you will have to goto the manufacturers web site to get those drivers.
Good luck
Tom
2007-01-13 02:05:19 · answer #1 · answered by Cafetom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a license key on the bottom of your laptop and this is for the same version of windows you have the CD for you can use the laptops license key.
If you want to recover the laptops license key there is a peice of software called Rock XP, just do a search for it.
As long as yu use the laptops license key it will be legal.
Unfortunately the only way to find out if the license key is valid with the windows install CD you need to start the installation and lose everything, if the key isn't valid you can't complete the install
2007-01-13 02:09:02 · answer #2 · answered by Gordon B 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have it instlaled on bothmy laptop and home computer and I have had no problems. I think as long as it is in your personal home you can put it on 2 computers. Looks like there are a lot of different opinions about that but I can only say from my experience. About downloading that "Free" program one guy suggested. I would run from that idea. anything that is free probably will have a virus in it or something. I would not suggest downloading that program. But it is all up to what you are willing to deal with. Good luck. And if microsoft does say anything, which I doubt they will I would play the dumb card. " I did not know I could not put it on two computer" belive me they have bigger fish to go after than measly ole us.
2007-01-13 02:11:34 · answer #3 · answered by sarahjanel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wish the people who sold computers would make this clearer; there should have been a recovery cd supplied, or instructions on how you can make one; or there should be a recovery partition installed.
So phone the company that sold you the laptop and ask.
Magical Jellybean Keyfinder will help find the key on your laptop, but I don't think you can use it twice. But at least it proves you have a legit copy.
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/keyfinder.html - Magical Jellybean Keyfinder
2007-01-13 02:08:21 · answer #4 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's possible but Windows requires you to register your software in 30 days via an internet connection. If you don't register it, Windows will shut down. If you register the same software twice, you run the risk of having both computers locked out.
Again, its possible, but not a great idea.
2007-01-13 02:08:16 · answer #5 · answered by Michael C 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
NO u can not because there is only 1 unique serial key for each cd so u cant use the serial key more than once
2007-01-13 02:07:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can install windows XP on two computers.
2007-01-13 02:04:59 · answer #7 · answered by urs4yrs 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer to the question you asked is YES you "can." Is that legal? Nope. You have to buy a copy of XP for each machine you wish to install it on (okay, technically, you just need to buy the LICENSE for each machine...)
2007-01-13 02:04:26 · answer #8 · answered by davidinark 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yep!
There is 1 issue though. When xp starts in your 2nd computer do not allow it to update........ If you do it will nag you death about having the wrong serial No.
If you can live with that then do it!
2007-01-13 02:03:58 · answer #9 · answered by Chew 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can but it's not legal, believe you can buy xp home for around £50 now, but i would rather spend it on beer!
2007-01-13 02:06:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋