Product Key Question
- Thread starter SkyRider
- Start date
Maybe. The XP disk has to match your lost original pretty precisely (e.g. exact same version with same service packs) or the key may not work. You used be able to get free help from Microsoft explaining that you have changed your hardware and oddly enough they would at one time gladly help with this, maybe they still do. I haven't done it in so long now and XP isn't supported like it used to be but yes, a couple of years ago this wouldn't have been a real problem at all unless the key was from a "brand name" computer (e.g. HP, Compaq, IBM, Dell, etc.). I remember a couple of times doing this for people and it would actually tell me "this activation key is in use, have you changed or upgraded your hardware?" and it then give you a code and a number to call Microsoft for help and they would deactivate the old activation and give you a new one. I don't know for sure they still do this (especially with XP) but they definitely used to.
Thanks. What is the worse that can happen if I try it? A "cease and desist" message from Microsoft? For what it is worth, there are small computer stores that will install XP or Windows 7 for $40-$50, if I provide them with a product key.
M$ is paranoid about piracy. They will send your warning that they believe you are using an illegal copy of XP and give you 30 days to correct it or but a legit
XP copy. If you refuse they will shutdown your OS after 30 days.
Sorry, not to treat you like a moron, but did you consider that you couldn't find the disk because you actually have a restore partition? Most vendors don't ship spinning plastic anymore, but instead use restore partitions. Also, if your copy of the OS was legit, even if it's out of warranty, you may have some luck getting the key from the manufacturer via an 800 number. Heck, I managed to do that with an ancient version of my dad's tax software-- I was pleasantly surprised.
I do remember there was a physical disc which I can no longer find. I do have the 25 character product key because it is taped to my old existing computer which I am planning to decommission. I would like to move the XP O/S from the old computer to a new computer.
You could always TRY putting the hard disk in an enclosure, than you could probably clone the partition to the new system, then grow the new partition's size. You'd have to be prepared for Windows to shit it's pants on every driver. *IT SHOULD COME UP IN SAFE MODE*, where you could install new drivers.
I haven't done that in years, so YMMV. There were reports of MS's anti-piracy not liking radically new HW on their newer OSes, but there was big pushback against that. So even after you correct the 'shits pants on every driver', MS *MAY* still bone you. What you could do there is call their 800 number and tell them that you replaced your motherboard and want the key that you paid for. Inbound telemarketers aren't noted for caring too much. In the foggy past I've gone that route for several bits of software with good results.
If you do go that route MAKE SURE YOU NEVER BOOT THE OLD DRIVE, or you should be flagged by MS the second you connect to anything resembling Windows Update.
I use XP on a virtual machine, on my linux file and media server, and I think that XP came from a Lenovo Laptop that was never booted into Windows. Basically I keep a compressed backup copy of that around, with the Lenovo junk uninstalled, and set up for a virtual machine. Then I keep an updated version of that around to actually use as Windows. If I break my Windows, I make a copy of the backup and start applying updates. That's been my Windows for years... I'll likely replace that with Win 7 from the next laptop I buy.
Microsoft codes the product key to the actual computer hardware. It likely won't register with new hardware. In the past I had called Windows and they gave me a new key. Don't know if that still is standard practice.
Don't quote me, but if you say something like 'my motherboard died' you should be able to get it sorted. (Because telemarketers don't care and to do otherwise would be illegal in many jurisdictions, AFAIK.) Just be sure not to boot the old XP drive ever (until it gets formatted).
When I put my laptop's never booted XP onto a virtual machine there was some rigmarole there-- But that was a decade ago. With more work, play, and friend and family systems than I'd care to count in between.
Mostly I simply won't touch anything that doesn't have some legit OS, because of the PITA / ethical factor. (Be it Windows, MacOSX, or Linux.) Since the guy seems to be liberating his own Windows, I'd go clone, grow, sort drivers and sort key (via an 800 #). (Oh, and do a full OS backup of some sort, right after you get things sorted.)
The whole thing sounds like a great reason to use a flavour of Linux.
The answer isn't as simple as the question.
If your old computer used an OEM installation of XP then the Master License Agreement is with that OEM manufacturer, and Microsoft considers the Motherboard to be the defining component of the system. You can change hard drives, CPU, etc on that motherboard and still use the same CoA key, but once you change motherboards you're SOL. Microsoft may make exceptions if your motherboard died and you're retaining the other components but that's at their discretion.
If your old computer used a consumer-licensed CoA installation key, you may be able to transfer it to your new system (as long as the installation on your old system is destroyed, typically by formatting the hard drive).
The other question, of course, is why you're looking to install a copy of an operating system which has reached end-of-life for support?
Just a delaying tactic until I decide next move. Might go Linux and get an O/S for free.
A reasonable thought.
I've bought a number of refurbished machines over the years, and have never run into any problems with them: another possible route to a Win7 licensed machine.
