Will Win XP upgrade software work?

Question

I have an old Win 98 computer that I wiped out and installed Win XP from the disk of my new computer. Everything works except I need to register the product id. Because the software belongs to my newer computer, I can't register that number.

Will Win XP 'upgrade' software work? Or do I need to buy the entire version?

Even though the upgrade software comes with a product code, I still can't use it?

Answer 1

With WinXP actually being "illegitimate" on the second computer, you cannot upgrade it. Read this:

Install Problems – What Windows Does –Install on Another Computer – Product Key – 25-character code

When you buy Windows XP in a shrink-wrapped box, you are allowed to install one copy on one PC. When Windows comes pre-installed on a new PC, it stays with the PC. You cannot transfer it from the bundled machine to a different machine. MS uses a technique called “BIOS locking” to make sure the copy stays ties to that specific PC forever.

Windows installer makes you type the 25-character code that’s printed on the case. The Product Activation program looks at various serial numbers inside your PC – the processor, network card, disk drives, etc. – mixes them together, and produces a second 25 character code that identifies your PC. These 50 characters, together, are called the Installation ID.

When you activate XP, you give MS the 50-character Installaton ID. If nobody else activated that 25-character code or if it has been activated with that specific Installation ID (which means you activated this particular copy of XP from the same PC twice) MS send back a 42-character Confirmation ID. The Installation ID and the Confirmation ID are stored on our PC.

If that 25-character code has been already been used on a different PC you will be notified that the number of times you can activate Windows with this product key has been exceeded.

Source: paraphrased from p. 18, Windows Gigabook for Dummies, by Peter Weverka et al.

Answer 2

on a similar time as setting up Vista CD it ask for replace from working Xp and Vista key. so which you will be able to desire to purchase xp Vista improve. And get a key. it isn't any longer unfastened. Your all vb2005 placing could be comparable in Vista.