Win XP Pro install questions

[mcendejas]

Several months ago I purchased a used computer with
Microsoft XP Professional Windows already installed. I
really liked the system as compared to other windows that I
have used in the past, but I was unable to download
upgrades because I did not have the product key
information. I want to use Windows XP for three computers
that I own. The salesperson as Fry's Electronics told that
I would be able to install Windows XP Pro on my three
computers only if I purchased the full version (verses the
upgrade). Now, from what I am reading in the manual and on
your web site, Microsoft requires that my $300 full-version
Windows XP Professional software must be activated or it
will not be serviceable after 30 days. I also now
understand that Microsoft has "volume licensing"
restrictions for installing this software on more than one
computer, but when I looked into "volume licensing" it
references licensing for those that need more than five
installs. I plan to upgrade my used computer someday. There
is also the possibility that my computer could someday have
a hard drive crash.
Will I be able to re-install my Windows XP Professional on
a new hard drive should I decide to replace my existing
hard drive in an up-grade? What if my hard drive crashes
and I have to install a new hard drive?
Will I be able to install my Windows XP Professional on all
three of my computers?
Is volume licensing available for less than five computers?
How much for three computers? Do I have to purchase special
software CD for this multiple-use purpose?
Finally, the manual does not address installing my Windows
XP Pro over an existing installed Windows XP Pro. Is this
possible without conflict?
As it is, I am afraid to install this $300 Windows XP
Professional software that I have purchased, especially
when I have a perfectly usable version already. I want to
be assured that I can install this software on all three of
my computers and that I will be able to re-install this
software should I ever need to.
Thank you in advance for any of your answers, comments, or
suggestions. Please forward your response to my e-mail
address below.
Rick Cendejas, , 925-427-3013

[Nicholas]

1. One copy of Windows XP (i.e. Product Key/License) entitles you
to install and activate it on one (1) computer. Each additional
installation, on a different computer, requires a new Product =
Key.

2. Volume Licensing is designed for companies with many computers
and it does not require Product Activation. However, the =
minimum
purchase is for five (5) licenses.

3. You may install/reinstall the "retail version" of Windows XP as
often as you wish, as long as it's on the same computer. =
Changing
to a different hard drive or other hardware changes is =
permitted.....
you'll activate Windows XP the same way as you did originally,
usually via the internet.

4. To install your new copy of Windows XP over the old installation,
all that is necessary is a "repair install" procedure:

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

5. If you wish to install Windows XP on your other computers, you
can use the same CD but you'll need to purchase additional =
licenses.

To purchase an additional Windows XP license, visit:
=20
Additional licenses for Windows XP Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp


--=20
Nicholas

-------------------------------------------------------------------------=


"mcendejas" > wrote in message:
...

| Several months ago I purchased a used computer with
| Microsoft XP Professional Windows already installed. I
| really liked the system as compared to other windows that I
| have used in the past, but I was unable to download
| upgrades because I did not have the product key
| information. I want to use Windows XP for three computers
| that I own. The salesperson as Fry's Electronics told that
| I would be able to install Windows XP Pro on my three
| computers only if I purchased the full version (verses the
| upgrade). Now, from what I am reading in the manual and on
| your web site, Microsoft requires that my $300 full-version
| Windows XP Professional software must be activated or it
| will not be serviceable after 30 days. I also now
| understand that Microsoft has "volume licensing"
| restrictions for installing this software on more than one
| computer, but when I looked into "volume licensing" it
| references licensing for those that need more than five
| installs. I plan to upgrade my used computer someday. There
| is also the possibility that my computer could someday have
| a hard drive crash.
| Will I be able to re-install my Windows XP Professional on
| a new hard drive should I decide to replace my existing
| hard drive in an up-grade? What if my hard drive crashes
| and I have to install a new hard drive?
| Will I be able to install my Windows XP Professional on all
| three of my computers?
| Is volume licensing available for less than five computers?
| How much for three computers? Do I have to purchase special
| software CD for this multiple-use purpose?
| Finally, the manual does not address installing my Windows
| XP Pro over an existing installed Windows XP Pro. Is this
| possible without conflict?
| As it is, I am afraid to install this $300 Windows XP
| Professional software that I have purchased, especially
| when I have a perfectly usable version already. I want to
| be assured that I can install this software on all three of
| my computers and that I will be able to re-install this
| software should I ever need to.
| Thank you in advance for any of your answers, comments, or
| suggestions. Please forward your response to my e-mail
| address below.
| Rick Cendejas, , 925-427-3013
|

[Ken Blake]

In , mcendejas wrote:

> Several months ago I purchased a used computer with
> Microsoft XP Professional Windows already installed. I
> really liked the system as compared to other windows that I
> have used in the past, but I was unable to download
> upgrades because I did not have the product key
> information. I want to use Windows XP for three computers
> that I own. The salesperson as Fry's Electronics told that
> I would be able to install Windows XP Pro on my three
> computers only if I purchased the full version (verses the
> upgrade).


The *worst* way to get technical information about a computer
product is to ask the
sales clerk. Most of these people are paid minimum wage or close
to it, know absolutely nothing about the products they sell, and
even if they know an answer, are often not above lying to make a
sale. They qualified to get the job by being able to spell
"computer."

I probably exaggerate a little, but not much. In this case, as
usual, he has given you wrong information. Whether it's because
he didn't know any better or was outright lying to you, I don't
know for sure (I have a guess, but I'll keep it to myself). If
you qualified for the upgrade (owned a previous version), you
should have bought the upgrade and saved a substantial amount of
money.



> Now, from what I am reading in the manual and on
> your web site,


If you say "your" web site, you perhaps think that you have
contacted Microsoft here. You have not. This is a peer support
newsgroup. I am not a Microsoft employee. We are (almost) all
users here, just like you, helping each other. This is an
occasional Microsoft employee who participates here, but not in
an official capacity.


> Microsoft requires that my $300 full-version
> Windows XP Professional software must be activated or it
> will not be serviceable after 30 days.


Correct.


> I also now
> understand that Microsoft has "volume licensing"
> restrictions for installing this software on more than one
> computer, but when I looked into "volume licensing" it
> references licensing for those that need more than five
> installs.


Correct.


> I plan to upgrade my used computer someday. There
> is also the possibility that my computer could someday have
> a hard drive crash.
> Will I be able to re-install my Windows XP Professional on
> a new hard drive should I decide to replace my existing
> hard drive in an up-grade? What if my hard drive crashes
> and I have to install a new hard drive?


Absolutely. You can replace whatever components you need to and
reactivate without a problem.


> Will I be able to install my Windows XP Professional on all
> three of my computers?


That's the only restriction. No, you can't do that. The rule is
one copy (or one license) for each computer.

By the way, there's nothing new about that. That's always been
the rule in all version sof Windows. The only thing new in XP is
that there's now an enforcemnent mechanism.


> Is volume licensing available for less than five computers?


No, but you can buy additional licenses. The only catch is that
it's a poor deal--you can almost certainly buy complete extra
copies at a lower price from a discount source.


> How much for three computers? Do I have to purchase special
> software CD for this multiple-use purpose?


See above.


> Finally, the manual does not address installing my Windows
> XP Pro over an existing installed Windows XP Pro. Is this
> possible without conflict?


Sorry, I'm not sure what you're getting at here. What do you mean
by "installing my Windows XP Pro over an existing installed
Windows XP Pro"? Why do you want to do that? You can do a repair
installation if you need to.


> As it is, I am afraid to install this $300 Windows XP
> Professional software that I have purchased, especially
> when I have a perfectly usable version already. I want to
> be assured that I can install this software on all three of
> my computers


As said above, you can *not*.


> and that I will be able to re-install this
> software should I ever need to.


But that you can defintely do.


> Thank you in advance for any of your answers, comments, or
> suggestions.

> Please forward your response to my e-mail
> address below.
> Rick Cendejas, , 925-427-3013


Sorry, no. No E-mail support. Ask here, read answers here, where
all can benefit.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup