Can I use my windows disc?

Question

I got Windows XP when I bought a laptop. I have now got an old PC and I wondered if I can use the the same disc on the PC or if I have to go and buy another identical disc. I want it all to be legal. It seems stupid to go and buy an identical disc when I have one already, still unopened. Does anyone know?

Answer 1

Hello,

(ANS) The answer is that if your old machine meets the hardware requirements for windows XP then YES! you can install XP on the spare machine.

You shouldnt have to buy a new or extra license as its unopenned and also Microsoft allow users to use the same XP disk on a second machine for backup & restore purposes without braking the T&C of the end user license agreement (ULA). So, yes! go ahead install on the spare machine that should be fine.

Best Regards IR (10yrs+ in the computer industry).

Answer 2

The Windows Defragging utility is as good as any of the commercial ones and I have tried most of them though not the one you refer to. I would utterly avoid System Mechanic's defrag utility, I ran this only once and it hosed my hard drive (literally - I had to buy a new one because of the number of invalid sectors). I haven't used Norton's defrag since I left Windows Millennium for XP so I cannot comment on it's current state, but the one I used then was perfect (Millennium's defrag was a joke - always restarting). Anyway, I digress. The Windows defrag works and it's free so why pay for one? Oh, what do you mean it takes forever? I run defrag every Sunday and it never takes more than an hour (2 RAID setups - 3 200GB and 3 400GB - 1.5TB total storage). Is this a long time?

Answer 3

yes you can install the disc if it is unopended with no problem whatsoever, the problem comes if you use the same disc to install on two pc/laptop. but the way round that is when you have to activate it and it says you have run out of licences of such words, then activate it by phone and call microsoft there willbe a local call number that will appear for you to call, tell them you have formatted the pc and want to reinstall the OS software, they will ask how many pc's you have for install, say you have only one pc ok, they will then ask you to tell them the numbers that will be on your screen, after you have told them the numbers they will give you a group by groups series of numbers which you will type in the boxes below, then you will be activated dont worry they tell you the numbers real slow good luck

Answer 4

Legally the license only allows you to use it on one PC at a time, so you would have to buy a second copy unless you uninstalled Windows from your laptop.

Answer 5

To be totally legal it is one copy of windows per PC, it can be possible to install one more than one PC, but some OEM copies supplied with PC's are company altered to allow them to check the PC being installed on, if not the same make of computer it will not install

Answer 6

If it is the full Windows XP disc and not just a recovery disc it should be fine.Try it. if it does not install ,it should tell you why.

Answer 7

The laptop CD will only work with your laptop. You can try but it will not install the software on your PC. You will need to buy a licensed copy for your machine.

Answer 8

You can use it but its going to ask you for the activation code...even if you put it in its still going to ask...so every 30 days its going to lock you out...So I would say get another XP Disc...

Answer 9

It will work. Did you keep the pass code? If you kept that then it will download onto your Laptop. If you have Win98 on the laptop, chances are it will not work. That because of the mother board on there, it cannot handle XP.

Answer 10

well, if you conect you old pc in internet i prefer that you buy a other Win XP CD, but if you no conect forget it.