I am building my own computer and I was wondering if I could use the Windows XP disc that came with my old one. Or is microsoft gonna rip me off and make me buy windows XP again?
2007-03-02 05:35:18 · 7 answers · asked by Mr. Martini 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
You will have to buy a second copy. Here's why:
"Windows installer makes you type the unique 25-character code that's printed on the case of your Windows XP CD. Later, the Product Activation programs looks at various serial numbers inside your PC - the processor, network card, and disk drives, etc. -- mixes them together, and produces a second 25-character code that identifies your PC. Those 50 characters, taken together, are called the installation ID.
When you activate Windows XP, you give Microsoft the 50 character installation ID.
I'm going to skip some information here -- to continue -- every time WindowsXP starts, it recalculates the 25-character code that's based on the various serial numbers inside your PC. If the recalculated 25-character code doesn't match your original code, the activation time clock starts over and it continues to remind you relentlessly, etc. etc.
All this and much more is covered in Chapter 2.
I bought this $35 book for $3.50 and shipping at www.amazon.com as a used book.
2007-03-02 05:46:37 · answer #1 · answered by TheHumbleOne 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Depends on what your old disk actually contains. If you have a system recovery disk, unless you are building pretty much an identical system, it probably won't work. If the disk contains a retail XP license, then you can install as long as you uninstall off the other system you originally used the product on.
2007-03-02 05:39:45 · answer #2 · answered by Jim Maryland 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the windows xp disk your going to need is going to be the full install oem , if the disk that came with your PC is a recovery disk from a manufacture such as dell , it's not going to work because those disk are specific only to that product .
2007-03-02 05:39:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi
YES , you can use it many times FOR YOUR PERSONAL use only but yea you can so go ahead , as a matter of fact my 3 pcs have the same xp :)
2007-03-02 05:40:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Microsoft changed their policy of one OS/ one CPU. They do require that you remove the OS from your old PC.
2007-03-02 05:40:01 · answer #5 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it's an OEM disk that came with say, a dell, then you likely cannot use it. However, if it's just plain ole windows, sure you can use it.
2007-03-02 05:39:04 · answer #6 · answered by Got Security? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should be able to use it again. I did that with Windows 98 SE so it should work.
2007-03-02 05:41:47 · answer #7 · answered by The Big Bean 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋