Can I use my original windows XP CD to put windows XP on a second computer in my home?

Question

I have a windows XP cd that I bought when I got my computer in 2003. now I'm setting up a new computer in my home and I need to know if I can still use this same disc or must I buy a brand new XP disc? This second computer is networked through my 1st computer in my home. I also have a windows 95 disc too, can I reuse either of them since both of them were originaly bought my me?

Answer 1

no you can't do this. you can't use the same key on another computer and i wouldn't put 95 on any computer these days because of it having too much problems with doing things that are dated to use win98se or higher. plus it will just confuse the hell out of you when a problem happens.
send me an email and i can give you a legal work around for installing XP on that other computer.

Answer 2

This is a very common problem with xp computers, if it is an older model with a small processor like an intel celeron-P4 then your best bet is to download a new operating system or buy an external disc drive and an xp home edition disc off ebay or something. A good operating system for an older pc if you do not do any gaming such as call of duty or crysis is ubuntu 4.0, its a linux based os but more like the software on the apple macs, it will fit onto a usb memory pen about 4gb and will boot from startup. you will need to plug it in while turned off, start up the pc and enter your bios (usually F2) before the logo screen. Go to boot up or anything where you can select the boot device and change the 1st boot device to the usb stick and the second to your hard drive (should be local disc C) You can the install ubuntu from bootup, the same will be possible if you use an external dvd drive and xp. If you use the usb method make sure that the only thing on it is ubuntu.

Answer 3

First, check whether your CD is a full copy or only an upgrade copy. If you don't have WinOS on the PC now, you won't be able to use an upgrade copy for a full install. But you could install Win95 first. Second, you only get so many installs (3 or 5) on WinXP before Microsoft blocks you from activating another copy, so depending on how many times you have installed / re-installed on your other PC you may or may not be able to use it. Also, you may be restricted from downloading patches (though they have gone back and forth on that one). Vista gets even more restrictive by using a hardware hash key to basically link the OS install to the PC so that you can't use it anywhere else. They retain the right to do all of this because technically you are not buying from them the software but rather a license to install the software on a single PC. So the technology is just catching up to where the EULA (End User License Agreement) has been for years.

Answer 4

Yes and no. Yes you can use the same CD to install XP on as many computers as you like, no that you cannot use the same registration key on every computer. You will have to call Microsoft and purchase a license for each additional PC you want to install it on. If you do not, you will be unable to activate XP and after 30 days, you will only have basic functions of XP, one of those that you will lose is internet access.

Answer 5

You can do anything that will work, but the rule is: 1 PC. 1 OS. You will have better luck with 95, as xp will probably never get past the product key or validation. Good time to try out Linux?

Answer 6

no way - not with XP - anyway - it's associated with your computer.... however, 98, 95 and me can be put on multiple computers. I would never use 95 again - it's too limited.

XP is pretty cheap right now - try e-bay. Get yourself a real copy and stop all the aggravation.

Answer 7

Before you buy VISTA read the articles at:

http://www.maximumpc.com/2007/01/10_reasons_you.html

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/175801

http://www.boingboing.net/2007/01/13/vista_suicide_note_r.html

Linux operating systems are excellent. Try out one of the free distributions. My favorite is UBUNTU. You can download it, or order a CD, at

http://www.ubuntu.com .

You will also get all the software, that you will ever need, FREE - See

http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Linux_software_equivalent_to_Windows_software

Answer 8

you cannot use that same windows xp cd
microsoft recorded the software number when you register and it also record the PC ID.

Only when your PC is broken, you can install that Windows to another PC

Answer 9

I think that you could probably get away with it if you don't leave all the automated updating features turned on on the secondary machine. You might want to read your EULA (End-User License Agreement) and check the legallity issues with running two same versions on different machines. As far as I know it's illegal. Check Microsoft site.

Quote (ie EULA.txt found in your WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft grants to you a limited, non-exclusive,
nontransferable, royalty-free license to install and use
one (1) copy of the executable code of the Software on a
single computer residing on your premises...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this to me says no ---> One PC = one copy windows
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
you may make one (1) additional copy of the Software
on physical media such as a CD-ROM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this is so that if your original gets scratched/damaged...

Hope this helps.
Cheers

Answer 10

Yes you can, but you need to register it under the same user name.