[slime]

Hi guys, it's me again.
Going to do the build next week but have two questions to ask.
I have on OEM copy of XP that I bought a while ago when doing a minor upgrade.
I need to know whether or not I can use it for my new build.
It is a legit copy that has only ever been used once. I tried to find out by e-mailing Microsoft, but the robbing bastards wanted £46 just to answer my query!!!
I also have two product ID keys!! One I got via CP - System, (just below the word Registered), & the other I got from the registry using a key finder programme. Which is the one I should use?
Please help so that I can stop bothering you kind people,
I thank you all in advance,

Slime.

[Razer]

I don't think you should personally but nobody can stop you =)

[Bubba]

Correct me if I am wrong but............

I thought that the XP license was for the buyer, not for an individual computer. To explain what i mean, I thought that if I bought a copy of XP I was (home use, not business) allowed to put it on any computer that I own. Now i can't build a computer to give it away or sell it with that copy of XP but as long as i was the user it was perfectly legal. That was one of the changes that came with Vista was it not (mainly due to scumbags abusing the "honor code"), that one copy of Vista was legal for ONE computer. heck, I had to call MS when I had a bum MoBo and replaced it to reactivate my Vista.

As to your question, I don't know which of the two codes that show up on your computer you should use, and if I am wrong about my thoughts on the legality of you using your legaly purchased XP on more than one of YOUR computers, it won't matter anyways lol because this thread will be shut down.

[slime]

I don't want to do anything underhand, guys.
I have a legitimate copy of XP that I bought a while ago that has only ever been put on one PC. I am now about to upgrade this PC, i.e. build a new replacement, and I just wanted to know whether or not I can use my copy of XP.
I am not a bad person, just a tight fisted one !!

Slime.

[YRTNEG]

I got a Quad 6600 purely on the fact that in comes with a Core2 Quad sticker well worth it....but tbh any processor will run anygame at max......its mainly the graphics cards that cant keep up today

[serverguy]

That was off topic YRTNEG....


slime, I am like you and like to stay legal. But at the end of the day, how far can you go?

Technically an OEM XP license cannot be installed on more than one computer.

However, nothing is wrong with replacing all the components in that computer and then ringing MS up to say you upgraded your computer and need it reactivating, which they will do.

Heck, they've had the money out of you once, and will most likely soon enough for Windows 7 etc etc.

As for the two keys, I'd just use the one that came on the packaging of the version of XP that you brought.

That other key may or may not work.

The way I look at it is like so. You have paid MS for the licence once. You're not selling the other computer with the license. So why should you have to pay for it again?

But this is only my opinion.

[Bubba]

I am in full agreement with you Server.

[ilop12]

me too. i hate that they do this, it really just drives piracy. companies should find a freindly way of DRM and serial management. it really only hurts the legal and honest companies. DRM can easily be circumvented. crysis was cracked within the first few days i belive and so were many other new games. i hope they get a clue that the DRM used now does not work.