peter wrote:
I have an old pc that I bought with xp preinstalled. The pc is old and
dying so I bought a new pc without xp as I thought I could use the
license on the new pc. I did a clean install on the new pc and when it
came to entering the key it was rejected. The key was on the panel on
the side of the old pc and I double checked it on the old pc by using
jellybean finder software.

Eventually I used a key code from my work pc just to get the pc
working (so that I could transfer data) but of course I can't update
and I have the 30 day warning.

Why didn't my old pc key work? Now that I've used another key to start
the xp working is there a way of correcting this?



By your own admission, you have an OEM license for WinXP from the
defunct machine. An OEM version must be sold with a piece of hardware
(normally a motherboard or hard drive, if not an entire PC) and is
_permanently_ bound to the first PC on which it's installed. An OEM
license, once installed, is not legally transferable to another computer
under _any_ circumstances.

You'll need to purchase a new WinXP license for the new computer.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot