Re-installing XP on a new computer

[Kevinpw]

I am getting ready to purchase Windows XP and install it on my 3 year old computer. However, I do plan on building a brand new computer within the next year, scrapping the old computer. Will I beable install and re-activate my XP on the new computer, or
will I be forced to buy a new copy for the new computer?

[Tim Newton [MSFT]]

You should be able to do this, as long as you don't plan on leaving it
installed on both machines. Once you install and activate a copy of Windows
XP, it is locked to that hardware for a period of 120 days. This is
considered to be an adequate amount of time to prevent piracy, but still
allow people who upgrade their hardware often to reinstall when they need
to. Worse case scenario would be that you would have to call into the
clearinghouse to activate and that just takes a few minutes.

--
Tim Newton [MSFT]


Search our Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/directory
Visit the Windows 2000 Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp
See the Windows NT Homepage at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/

NOTE: Please reply to the newsgroup and not directly to me. This allows
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This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty either expressed or
implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The views and opinions
expressed in this newsgroup posting are mine and do not necessarily express
or reflect the views and / or opinions of Microsoft.



"Kevinpw" > wrote in message
...
> I am getting ready to purchase Windows XP and install it on my 3 year old
computer. However, I do plan on building a brand new computer within the
next year, scrapping the old computer. Will I beable install and
re-activate my XP on the new computer, or will I be forced to buy a new copy
for the new computer?

[Steve C. Ray]

This is not completely correct. If you buy a OEM version the license can't
be transferred to another computer. If you buy the retail version it can be
moved to another computer at any time (as long as it is not in use on any
other computer). If you move it to another computer within 120 days of when
it was first installed you will probable have to make a phone activation.
The toll free number will be displayed on the screen. If it is more than 120
days it will activate on the internet as normal. The retail versions of XP
are not "locked to that hardware".

--
Steve C. Ray

"Tim Newton [MSFT]" > wrote in message
...
> You should be able to do this, as long as you don't plan on leaving it
> installed on both machines. Once you install and activate a copy of
Windows
> XP, it is locked to that hardware for a period of 120 days. This is
> considered to be an adequate amount of time to prevent piracy, but still
> allow people who upgrade their hardware often to reinstall when they need
> to. Worse case scenario would be that you would have to call into the
> clearinghouse to activate and that just takes a few minutes.
>
> --
> Tim Newton [MSFT]
>
>
> Search our Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/directory
> Visit the Windows 2000 Homepage at
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp
> See the Windows NT Homepage at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/
>
> NOTE: Please reply to the newsgroup and not directly to me. This allows
> others to add to and benefit from these threads and also helps to ensure a
> more timely response. Thank you!
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty either expressed or
> implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
> merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The views and
opinions
> expressed in this newsgroup posting are mine and do not necessarily
express
> or reflect the views and / or opinions of Microsoft.
>
>
>
> "Kevinpw" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I am getting ready to purchase Windows XP and install it on my 3 year
old
> computer. However, I do plan on building a brand new computer within the
> next year, scrapping the old computer. Will I beable install and
> re-activate my XP on the new computer, or will I be forced to buy a new
copy
> for the new computer?
>
>

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Assuming a retail license (OEM licenses are not transferable),
simply remove WinXP from the computer it is currently on, and install
it onto the new one. If it's been more than 120 days since you last
activated that specific Product Key, you'll most likely be able to
activate via the Internet without problem. If it's been less, you
might have to make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm


Bruce Chambers

--
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having both at once. -- RAH


"Kevinpw" > wrote in message
...
> I am getting ready to purchase Windows XP and install it on my 3
year old computer. However, I do plan on building a brand new
computer within the next year, scrapping the old computer. Will I
beable install and re-activate my XP on the new computer, or will I be
forced to buy a new copy for the new computer?