PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still use

[Guest JeromeBland]

Hi,

 

I purchased a Dell 8200 computer in 2003.

 

That computer was stolen from my house in October 2004, however I still have

the ORIGINAL XP home edition installation CD and the 25 digit license code.

 

 

Now it is 2008 and I recently built a home use computer that needs an OS.

 

 

Question: Can I install and use the Windows XP Home Edition OS, with my

license code from the stolen computer, on a computer that I just built?

 

 

Thanks,

 

Jer B

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still use

 

Is it an CD from Dell or one you purchased?

 

JeromeBland wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I purchased a Dell 8200 computer in 2003.

>

> That computer was stolen from my house in October 2004, however I still

> have

> the ORIGINAL XP home edition installation CD and the 25 digit license

> code.

>

>

> Now it is 2008 and I recently built a home use computer that needs an OS.

>

>

> Question: Can I install and use the Windows XP Home Edition OS, with

> my

> license code from the stolen computer, on a computer that I just built?

>

>

> Thanks,

>

> Jer B

[Guest DL]

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still use

 

If its a retail edition, yes, if its an OEM edition supplied by Dell then no

 

"JeromeBland" <JeromeBland@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:3B88D2C4-0B09-4E92-94A5-E01D23C417D0@microsoft.com...

> Hi,

>

> I purchased a Dell 8200 computer in 2003.

>

> That computer was stolen from my house in October 2004, however I still

> have

> the ORIGINAL XP home edition installation CD and the 25 digit license

> code.

>

>

> Now it is 2008 and I recently built a home use computer that needs an OS.

>

>

> Question: Can I install and use the Windows XP Home Edition OS, with

> my

> license code from the stolen computer, on a computer that I just built?

>

>

> Thanks,

>

> Jer B

>

[Guest JeromeBland]

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

The CD is the Dell installation CD for Windows XP that came with the Dell

computer, which is now stolen.

 

Can I use this disk to install XP on a computer that I just built?

 

 

 

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Is it an CD from Dell or one you purchased?

>

> JeromeBland wrote:

> > Hi,

> >

> > I purchased a Dell 8200 computer in 2003.

> >

> > That computer was stolen from my house in October 2004, however I still

> > have

> > the ORIGINAL XP home edition installation CD and the 25 digit license

> > code.

> >

> >

> > Now it is 2008 and I recently built a home use computer that needs an OS.

> >

> >

> > Question: Can I install and use the Windows XP Home Edition OS, with

> > my

> > license code from the stolen computer, on a computer that I just built?

> >

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Jer B

>

>

[Guest JeromeBland]

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

DL,

 

I am not aware of the license regulations.

 

Why couldn't I use the CD?

 

Why does OEM differ from the retail version?

 

Thanks,

 

Jer

 

"DL" wrote:

> If its a retail edition, yes, if its an OEM edition supplied by Dell then no

>

> "JeromeBland" <JeromeBland@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:3B88D2C4-0B09-4E92-94A5-E01D23C417D0@microsoft.com...

> > Hi,

> >

> > I purchased a Dell 8200 computer in 2003.

> >

> > That computer was stolen from my house in October 2004, however I still

> > have

> > the ORIGINAL XP home edition installation CD and the 25 digit license

> > code.

> >

> >

> > Now it is 2008 and I recently built a home use computer that needs an OS.

> >

> >

> > Question: Can I install and use the Windows XP Home Edition OS, with

> > my

> > license code from the stolen computer, on a computer that I just built?

> >

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Jer B

> >

>

>

>

[Guest p]

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

JeromeBland wrote:

> The CD is the Dell installation CD for Windows XP that came with the Dell

> computer, which is now stolen.

>

> Can I use this disk to install XP on a computer that I just built?

 

No, it won't work. You'll have to buy a new copy of XP and you better

hurry as Monday is the last day it will be available. Try NewEgg.

 

P

>

>

>

> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

>

>> Is it an CD from Dell or one you purchased?

>>

>> JeromeBland wrote:

>>> Hi,

>>>

>>> I purchased a Dell 8200 computer in 2003.

>>>

>>> That computer was stolen from my house in October 2004, however I still

>>> have

>>> the ORIGINAL XP home edition installation CD and the 25 digit license

>>> code.

>>>

>>>

>>> Now it is 2008 and I recently built a home use computer that needs an OS.

>>>

>>>

>>> Question: Can I install and use the Windows XP Home Edition OS, with

>>> my

>>> license code from the stolen computer, on a computer that I just built?

>>>

>>>

>>> Thanks,

>>>

>>> Jer B

>>

[Guest p]

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

JeromeBland wrote:

> DL,

>

> I am not aware of the license regulations.

>

> Why couldn't I use the CD?

>

> Why does OEM differ from the retail version?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Jer

 

To make it even more confusing, there are branded OEMs and generic OEMs.

The branded ones, like you have, are tied to the original computer's

BIOS and won't work on any other computer. The generic ones will

probably work but you will be violating the EULA.

 

P

>

> "DL" wrote:

>

>> If its a retail edition, yes, if its an OEM edition supplied by Dell then no

>>

>> "JeromeBland" <JeromeBland@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:3B88D2C4-0B09-4E92-94A5-E01D23C417D0@microsoft.com...

>>> Hi,

>>>

>>> I purchased a Dell 8200 computer in 2003.

>>>

>>> That computer was stolen from my house in October 2004, however I still

>>> have

>>> the ORIGINAL XP home edition installation CD and the 25 digit license

>>> code.

>>>

>>>

>>> Now it is 2008 and I recently built a home use computer that needs an OS.

>>>

>>>

>>> Question: Can I install and use the Windows XP Home Edition OS, with

>>> my

>>> license code from the stolen computer, on a computer that I just built?

>>>

>>>

>>> Thanks,

>>>

>>> Jer B

>>>

>>

>>

[Guest HeyBub]

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

JeromeBland wrote:

> DL,

>

> I am not aware of the license regulations.

>

> Why couldn't I use the CD?

>

> Why does OEM differ from the retail version?

>

> Thanks,

>

 

Because the factory-installed version is licensed only for the machine on

which it was originally installed. If you tried to use the CD you have: a)

It probably won't work since it is probably tied to the BIOS of the original

machine, or b) Microsoft would deny activation.

 

OEM distributions differ because they're sold in bulk. Dell (and other

manufacturers) buy the bulk (OEM) version from MS for about $30 vs. $250 for

a single retail version. If you bought, say, 500,000 copies, you could

probably get the bulk rate, too.

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

No. That CD and the accompanying license are linked forever to your stolen

Dell computer and cannot be transferred, period.

 

JeromeBland wrote:

> The CD is the Dell installation CD for Windows XP that came with the Dell

> computer, which is now stolen.

>

> Can I use this disk to install XP on a computer that I just built?

>

>

>

> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

>

>> Is it an CD from Dell or one you purchased?

>>

>> JeromeBland wrote:

>>> Hi,

>>>

>>> I purchased a Dell 8200 computer in 2003.

>>>

>>> That computer was stolen from my house in October 2004, however I still

>>> have

>>> the ORIGINAL XP home edition installation CD and the 25 digit license

>>> code.

>>>

>>>

>>> Now it is 2008 and I recently built a home use computer that needs an

>>> OS.

>>>

>>>

>>> Question: Can I install and use the Windows XP Home Edition OS, with

>>> my

>>> license code from the stolen computer, on a computer that I just built?

>>>

>>>

>>> Thanks,

>>>

>>> Jer B

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

Re: PC w/ XP was Stolen, stil have Install CD w/ Key#. Can I still

 

JeromeBland wrote:

> DL,

>

> I am not aware of the license regulations.

>

> Why couldn't I use the CD?

>

> Why does OEM differ from the retail version?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Jer

>

 

 

 

There are some very important reasons that an OEM license costs so

much less than a retail license. OEM licenses are very limited:

 

1) OEM versions must be sold with a piece of non-peripheral

hardware (normally a motherboard or hard drive, if not an entire PC,

although Microsoft has greatly relaxed the hardware criteria for WinXP)

and are _permanently_ bound to the first PC on which they are installed.

An OEM license, once installed, is not legally transferable to another

computer under any circumstances. This is the main reason some people

avoid OEM versions; if the PC dies or is otherwise disposed of (even

stolen), you cannot re-use your OEM license on a new PC. The only

legitimate way to transfer the ownership of an OEM license is to

transfer ownership of the entire PC.

 

2) Microsoft provides no free support for OEM versions. If you

have any problems that require outside assistance, your only recourse is

to contact the manufacturer/builder of the PC or the vendor of the OEM

license. This would include such issues as lost a Product Key or

replacing damaged installation media. (Microsoft does make allowances

for those instances when you can prove that the OEM has gone out of

business.) This doesn't mean that you can't download patches and

service packs from Microsoft -- just no free telephone or email support

for problems with the OS.

 

3) An OEM CD cannot be used to perform an upgrade of an earlier

OS, as it was designed to be installed _only_ upon an empty hard drive.

It can still be used to perform a repair installation (a.k.a. an

in-place upgrade) of an existing WinXP installation.

 

4) If the OEM CD was designed by a specific manufacturer, such as

eMachines, Sony, Dell, Gateway, etc., it will most likely only install

on the same brand of PC, as an additional anti-piracy feature. Further,

such CDs are severely customized to contain only the minimum of device

drivers, and a lot of extra nonsense, that the manufacturer feels

necessary for the specific model of PC for which the CD was designed. To

be honest, such CDs should _not_ be available on the open market; but,

if you're shopping someplace on-line like eBay, swap meets, or computer

fairs, there's often no telling what you're buying until it's too late.

The "generic" OEM CDs, such as are manufactured by Microsoft and sold

to small systems builders, don't have this particular problem, though,

and are pretty much the same as their retail counterparts, apart from

the licensing, support, and upgrading restrictions.

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

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