Guest Peter Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Hi All, This is my first Question/s ever, so be nice to a first timer. please. This is my story. I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it. Acer Veriton 5500. I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any virus's, etc. I didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, Activation's. So I bought another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I’ve installed it & its all working great (much better than my Win98). But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do this. I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in this area). Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the computer is still useable on the Acer Computer? I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board). Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product Key on the side of the Acer Computer. Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I have on this computer now on another computer(that’s not been not working for 6 months now - has Win 98 on it)? If you say that I "can't" use my newly bought WinXp Home CD on the other computer. If the reason be because it's locked to the Acer 5500 computer now & can't be De-activated. What about in the other newsgroups some people seem to say something about "if I don't activate for 120 days" I can use the Product Key again, etc. Please explain the 120 days without activation. Would it work for me? I believe I've stuffed up. Is there any way out of this. I don't think I'm doing anything illegal - I have the original product key on the Acer computer. I've paid for the right to use the WinXp Home Cd I bought. Please guide me on the right path. Peter.
Guest duke Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Re: Installing XP, Activation, Product Key, etc Okay, I think I understand your questions: If you have NOT yet activated the new XP version with Microsoft, for all intent and purposes Microsoft is not aware of your installation. The activation process when completed, associates the 25 character product key that YOU ENTERED AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION, with several hardware identities, and the resultant hash is stored in Microsoft's database. If you want to go back to the old Product Key that is stuck to the case of the computer, you will have to reinstall XP again, this time enter the old product key on the case so that the hash generated will be based on the old product key. Any subsequent reinstall of the same product key will attempt to associate the hardware identities to generate the same hash as is stored in their database. If there is a mismatch, it would indicate that some/all of the components have been changed, therefore the reactivation MIGHT NOT be allowed, as it could be concluded that an attempt is being made to install it on another computer which violates the purchase agreement. Note that I said "might not be allowed" as the process is designed to allow some changes to occur as replacing / adding components (ex: disk drives, network cards etc.) is quite common. Should a legal automated activation process fail, you can still call Microsoft to plead your case. Hope this helps Peter wrote: > Hi All, This is my first Question/s ever, so be nice to a first timer. please. > > This is my story. I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it. > Acer Veriton 5500. I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any > virus's, etc. I didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, Activation's. > So I bought another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I’ve installed > it & its all working great (much better than my Win98). > > But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do this. > I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to > re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in this > area). > > Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the > computer is still useable on the Acer Computer? > > I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used > limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board). > > > Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product Key > on the side of the Acer Computer. > > Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I > have on this computer now on another computer(that’s not been not working for > 6 months now - has Win 98 on it)? > > > If you say that I "can't" use my newly bought WinXp Home CD on the other > computer. If the reason be because it's locked to the Acer 5500 computer now > & can't be De-activated. What about in the other newsgroups some people seem > to say something about "if I don't activate for 120 days" I can use the > Product Key again, etc. Please explain the 120 days without activation. Would > it work for me? > > I believe I've stuffed up. Is there any way out of this. I don't think I'm > doing anything illegal - I have the original product key on the Acer > computer. I've paid for the right to use the WinXp Home Cd I bought. Please > guide me on the right path. > > Peter.
Guest Peter Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Re: Installing XP, Activation, Product Key, etc Hi Duke, Thanks for your speedy reply. I can see now I've asked to many questions at once. I have activated the New WinXP Home & am using it now. At that time I didn't know about the Original Product Key on the side of my computer. I have learnt alot since then. Looks like I've learnt the hard way. Peter. "duke" wrote: > Okay, I think I understand your questions: > > If you have NOT yet activated the new XP version with Microsoft, for > all intent and purposes Microsoft is not aware of your installation. > The activation process when completed, associates the 25 character > product key that YOU ENTERED AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION, with several > hardware identities, and the resultant hash is stored in Microsoft's > database. > If you want to go back to the old Product Key that is stuck to the > case of the computer, you will have to reinstall XP again, this time > enter the old product key on the case so that the hash generated will > be based on the old product key. > > Any subsequent reinstall of the same product key will attempt to > associate the hardware identities to generate the same hash as is > stored in their database. If there is a mismatch, it would indicate > that some/all of the components have been changed, therefore the > reactivation MIGHT NOT be allowed, as it could be concluded that an > attempt is being made to install it on another computer which violates > the purchase agreement. > Note that I said "might not be allowed" as the process is designed to > allow some changes to occur as replacing / adding components (ex: disk > drives, network cards etc.) is quite common. Should a legal automated > activation process fail, you can still call Microsoft to plead your > case. > > Hope this helps > > > Peter wrote: > > Hi All, This is my first Question/s ever, so be nice to a first timer. please. > > > > This is my story. I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it. > > Acer Veriton 5500. I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any > > virus's, etc. I didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, Activation's. > > So I bought another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I’ve installed > > it & its all working great (much better than my Win98). > > > > But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do this. > > I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to > > re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in this > > area). > > > > Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the > > computer is still useable on the Acer Computer? > > > > I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used > > limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board). > > > > > > Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product Key > > on the side of the Acer Computer. > > > > Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I > > have on this computer now on another computer(that’s not been not working for > > 6 months now - has Win 98 on it)? > > > > > > If you say that I "can't" use my newly bought WinXp Home CD on the other > > computer. If the reason be because it's locked to the Acer 5500 computer now > > & can't be De-activated. What about in the other newsgroups some people seem > > to say something about "if I don't activate for 120 days" I can use the > > Product Key again, etc. Please explain the 120 days without activation. Would > > it work for me? > > > > I believe I've stuffed up. Is there any way out of this. I don't think I'm > > doing anything illegal - I have the original product key on the Acer > > computer. I've paid for the right to use the WinXp Home Cd I bought. Please > > guide me on the right path. > > > > Peter. >
Guest Peter Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Re: Installing XP, Activation, Product Key, etc Hi Duke, Before I remove the New WinXP Home I installed & validated. I need to make sure the Original Product Key will work that was is on the side on the computer. Else I may dig a bigger hole to bury myself in the saga of my ignorance. :( Thanks Peter. "duke" wrote: > Okay, I think I understand your questions: > > If you have NOT yet activated the new XP version with Microsoft, for > all intent and purposes Microsoft is not aware of your installation. > The activation process when completed, associates the 25 character > product key that YOU ENTERED AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION, with several > hardware identities, and the resultant hash is stored in Microsoft's > database. > If you want to go back to the old Product Key that is stuck to the > case of the computer, you will have to reinstall XP again, this time > enter the old product key on the case so that the hash generated will > be based on the old product key. > > Any subsequent reinstall of the same product key will attempt to > associate the hardware identities to generate the same hash as is > stored in their database. If there is a mismatch, it would indicate > that some/all of the components have been changed, therefore the > reactivation MIGHT NOT be allowed, as it could be concluded that an > attempt is being made to install it on another computer which violates > the purchase agreement. > Note that I said "might not be allowed" as the process is designed to > allow some changes to occur as replacing / adding components (ex: disk > drives, network cards etc.) is quite common. Should a legal automated > activation process fail, you can still call Microsoft to plead your > case. > > Hope this helps > > > Peter wrote: > > Hi All, This is my first Question/s ever, so be nice to a first timer. please. > > > > This is my story. I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it. > > Acer Veriton 5500. I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any > > virus's, etc. I didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, Activation's. > > So I bought another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I’ve installed > > it & its all working great (much better than my Win98). > > > > But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do this. > > I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to > > re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in this > > area). > > > > Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the > > computer is still useable on the Acer Computer? > > > > I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used > > limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board). > > > > > > Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product Key > > on the side of the Acer Computer. > > > > Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I > > have on this computer now on another computer(that’s not been not working for > > 6 months now - has Win 98 on it)? > > > > > > If you say that I "can't" use my newly bought WinXp Home CD on the other > > computer. If the reason be because it's locked to the Acer 5500 computer now > > & can't be De-activated. What about in the other newsgroups some people seem > > to say something about "if I don't activate for 120 days" I can use the > > Product Key again, etc. Please explain the 120 days without activation. Would > > it work for me? > > > > I believe I've stuffed up. Is there any way out of this. I don't think I'm > > doing anything illegal - I have the original product key on the Acer > > computer. I've paid for the right to use the WinXp Home Cd I bought. Please > > guide me on the right path. > > > > Peter. >
Guest Keith W Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Re: Installing XP, Activation, Product Key, etc "Peter" <Peter@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:F271829A-D80C-473D-9DFF-4720D0A083DD@microsoft.com... > Hi All, This is my first Question/s ever, so be nice to a first timer. > please. > > This is my story. I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it. > Acer Veriton 5500. I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any > virus's, etc. I didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, > Activation's. > So I bought another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I've > installed > it & its all working great (much better than my Win98). > > But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do > this. > I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to > re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in > this > area). > > Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the > computer is still useable on the Acer Computer? > > I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used > limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board). > > > Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product > Key > on the side of the Acer Computer. > > Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I > have on this computer now on another computer(that's not been not working > for > 6 months now - has Win 98 on it)? > > > If you say that I "can't" use my newly bought WinXp Home CD on the other > computer. If the reason be because it's locked to the Acer 5500 computer > now > & can't be De-activated. What about in the other newsgroups some people > seem > to say something about "if I don't activate for 120 days" I can use the > Product Key again, etc. Please explain the 120 days without activation. > Would > it work for me? > > I believe I've stuffed up. Is there any way out of this. I don't think I'm > doing anything illegal - I have the original product key on the Acer > computer. I've paid for the right to use the WinXp Home Cd I bought. > Please > guide me on the right path. > In similar circumstances I have carried out the following successfully. First I changed the CD Key I had used on one PC to another (still valid) key using a small free utility called Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder which I got from http://www.magicaljellybean.com . This avoided the problem of having to reinstall Windows from scratch. I then installed my OEM version onto another PC and it activated with no problems. I have read on another group that when you purchase an OEM disk you effectively become the manufacturer and it is your decision as to when the PC becomes a different PC. Mine was still the original PC case with everything inside replaced and I decided that this constituted an upgrade to the original machine. I would stress that, like you, I had paid for and had the legal title to both CD Keys but needed to move them around. I suggest you give it a try and see what happens. -- Keith W Sunbury on Thames (If you can't laugh at life, it ain't worth living)
Guest Peter Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Re: Installing XP, Activation, Product Key, etc Hi Keith, I'm wondering were any of your Xp versions validated before you did the change over. Thanks, Peter. "Keith W" wrote: > > "Peter" <Peter@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:F271829A-D80C-473D-9DFF-4720D0A083DD@microsoft.com... > > Hi All, This is my first Question/s ever, so be nice to a first timer. > > please. > > > > This is my story. I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it. > > Acer Veriton 5500. I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any > > virus's, etc. I didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, > > Activation's. > > So I bought another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I've > > installed > > it & its all working great (much better than my Win98). > > > > But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do > > this. > > I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to > > re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in > > this > > area). > > > > Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the > > computer is still useable on the Acer Computer? > > > > I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used > > limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board). > > > > > > Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product > > Key > > on the side of the Acer Computer. > > > > Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I > > have on this computer now on another computer(that's not been not working > > for > > 6 months now - has Win 98 on it)? > > > > > > If you say that I "can't" use my newly bought WinXp Home CD on the other > > computer. If the reason be because it's locked to the Acer 5500 computer > > now > > & can't be De-activated. What about in the other newsgroups some people > > seem > > to say something about "if I don't activate for 120 days" I can use the > > Product Key again, etc. Please explain the 120 days without activation. > > Would > > it work for me? > > > > I believe I've stuffed up. Is there any way out of this. I don't think I'm > > doing anything illegal - I have the original product key on the Acer > > computer. I've paid for the right to use the WinXp Home Cd I bought. > > Please > > guide me on the right path. > > > > > In similar circumstances I have carried out the following successfully. > > First I changed the CD Key I had used on one PC to another (still valid) key > using a small free utility called Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder which I got > from http://www.magicaljellybean.com . This avoided the problem of having > to reinstall Windows from scratch. I then installed my OEM version onto > another PC and it activated with no problems. I have read on another group > that when you purchase an OEM disk you effectively become the manufacturer > and it is your decision as to when the PC becomes a different PC. Mine was > still the original PC case with everything inside replaced and I decided > that this constituted an upgrade to the original machine. I would stress > that, like you, I had paid for and had the legal title to both CD Keys but > needed to move them around. I suggest you give it a try and see what > happens. > -- > Keith W > Sunbury on Thames > (If you can't laugh at life, it ain't worth living) > > >
Guest dadiOH Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Re: Installing XP, Activation, Product Key, etc Peter wrote: > Hi Duke, Thanks for your speedy reply. > > I can see now I've asked to many questions at once. > > I have activated the New WinXP Home & am using it now. At that time I > didn't know about the Original Product Key on the side of my > computer. I have learnt alot since then. Looks like I've learnt the > hard way. It is only "OEM" (original equipment manufacturer) flavors of XP that are tied to a specific computer; therefore, you can use the "original product key" and the install CD for it on your other computer as long as that install CD is not OEM. If both of your install CDs are OEM then I would call Microsoft, explain your problem and see if they will let you install your recently purchased XP-OEM on your old computer. I'm guessing they will since you have two legal copies and messed up because of naivete. If they do, use your original XP on the computer on which it was originally installed and your new OEM XP on the other computer. -- dadiOH ____________________________ dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
Guest Ken Blake, MVP Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Re: Installing XP, Activation, Product Key, etc On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:55:00 -0700, Peter <Peter@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > Hi All, This is my first Question/s ever, so be nice to a first timer. please. > > This is my story. I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it. > Acer Veriton 5500. I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any > virus's, etc. Good. That's the best thing to do with a used computer. > I didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, Activation's. > So I bought another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I’ve installed > it & its all working great (much better than my Win98). > > But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do this. > I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to > re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in this > area). Yes, you could have. > Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the > computer is still useable on the Acer Computer? There's no need to "find out." Yes, it's still usable. It's usable on that computer forever. > I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used > limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board). No, it can be used limitlessly as long as it's on that original computer. Hardware changes *are* permitted. Only a move to a different computer is forbidden. > Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product Key > on the side of the Acer Computer. > > Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I > have on this computer now on another computer(that’s not been not working for > 6 months now - has Win 98 on it)? No. The biggest disadvantage of the OEM CD you bought is that its license ties it permanently to the original computer it's installed on and it may never be moved to another. That's the reason I almost always recommend a Retail Upgrade copy instead, which usually costs only slightly more than an OEM copy, can be moved to another computer as desired, and *can* do a clean installation (despite what many people think) as long as you have a CD of a previous qualifying version (such as Windows 98) to show it when installing. > If you say that I "can't" use my newly bought WinXp Home CD on the other > computer. If the reason be because it's locked to the Acer 5500 computer now > & can't be De-activated. Yes. > What about in the other newsgroups some people seem > to say something about "if I don't activate for 120 days" I can use the > Product Key again, etc. Please explain the 120 days without activation. Would > it work for me? Are you asking about whether you can get away with violating the rules in the EULA? Yes, there are people who have gotten away with doing so. That doesn't change the fact that what you are suggesting is against the rules. Some people get away with driving through red lights, too, but that doesn't make it legal to do so. > > I believe I've stuffed up. Is there any way out of this. I don't think I'm > doing anything illegal - I have the original product key on the Acer > computer. I've paid for the right to use the WinXp Home Cd I bought. Please > guide me on the right path. You've paid for the right to use the CD you bought, but your right is only to use it in accordance with the terms of the EULA. What you propose, unfortunately, is in violation of those terms. -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Please Reply to the Newsgroup
Guest N. Miller Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Re: Installing XP, Activation, Product Key, etc On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:55:00 -0700, Peter wrote: > I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it. Acer Veriton 5500. > I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any virus's, etc. I > didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, Activation's. So I bought > another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I¢ve installed it & its > all working great (much better than my Win98). > > But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do this. > I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to > re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in this > area). > > Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the > computer is still useable on the Acer Computer? > > I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used > limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board). I am not sure about "over the 'net". You probably need to call the Microsoft number for product activations; alas, I've never needed to phone in a product activation, so I don't know that number. > Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product Key > on the side of the Acer Computer. > > Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I > have on this computer now on another computer(that¢s not been not working for > 6 months now - has Win 98 on it)? AIUI, the OEM license stays with the computer, so you should be able to use the product key on the side of the Acer case. However, your activation of the retail box version has created a situation where you will almost certainly have to contact Microsoft by telephone. The way I would approach it is to call their product activation number (assuming I could find it), and explain that I have an OEM license for the Acer, and another computer. And that I want to apply the OEM product key from the Acer for the OS on the Acer, and the retail box product key for the other computer. I'd try calling first and running it by Microsoft, just to be sure. But I don't see why you couldn't apply the OEM product key to the Windows XP installation on the Acer, and the retail box product key to the Windows XP installation on the other computer. These links might prove useful: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302806 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457054.aspx -- Norman ~Oh Lord, why have you come ~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum
Guest Keith W Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 Re: Installing XP, Activation, Product Key, etc Yes they had been. In fact one had been activated only a couple of months earlier because I had set up a dual boot PC (500mhz) for my wife booting into Win XP or Win 98 (for her older games) but it was too slow so I switched it for my backup machine which was faster but I used her OEM copy of XP for it and it activated with no problem. Come to think of it, my earlier statement about the computer case was wrong as well because I finished up switching the two PCs. Like I said, give it a whirl. If your Dell accepts the old CD key you are no worse off than now and after that I would be very surprised if you could not install your OEM copy on another machine with no difficulty. Incidentally, the old machine happily validated on the copy of XP that had been on the backup one. Don't ask me why I switched the copies over, I think that because I had to do a full install on my wife's machine to get the dual boot I automatically used her copy. -- Keith W Sunbury on Thames (If you can't laugh at life, it ain't worth living) "Peter" <Peter@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:48ED1E6C-E8F1-4EF9-80EA-9E3064E90F16@microsoft.com... > Hi Keith, I'm wondering were any of your Xp versions validated before you > did > the change over. Thanks, Peter. > > "Keith W" wrote: > >> >> "Peter" <Peter@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:F271829A-D80C-473D-9DFF-4720D0A083DD@microsoft.com... >> > Hi All, This is my first Question/s ever, so be nice to a first timer. >> > please. >> > >> > This is my story. I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on >> > it. >> > Acer Veriton 5500. I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want >> > any >> > virus's, etc. I didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, >> > Activation's. >> > So I bought another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I've >> > installed >> > it & its all working great (much better than my Win98). >> > >> > But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do >> > this. >> > I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer >> > to >> > re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb >> > in >> > this >> > area). >> > >> > Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on >> > the >> > computer is still useable on the Acer Computer? >> > >> > I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be >> > used >> > limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board). >> > >> > >> > Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original >> > Product >> > Key >> > on the side of the Acer Computer. >> > >> > Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that >> > I >> > have on this computer now on another computer(that's not been not >> > working >> > for >> > 6 months now - has Win 98 on it)? >> > >> > >> > If you say that I "can't" use my newly bought WinXp Home CD on the >> > other >> > computer. If the reason be because it's locked to the Acer 5500 >> > computer >> > now >> > & can't be De-activated. What about in the other newsgroups some people >> > seem >> > to say something about "if I don't activate for 120 days" I can use the >> > Product Key again, etc. Please explain the 120 days without activation. >> > Would >> > it work for me? >> > >> > I believe I've stuffed up. Is there any way out of this. I don't think >> > I'm >> > doing anything illegal - I have the original product key on the Acer >> > computer. I've paid for the right to use the WinXp Home Cd I bought. >> > Please >> > guide me on the right path. >> > >> >> >> In similar circumstances I have carried out the following successfully. >> >> First I changed the CD Key I had used on one PC to another (still valid) >> key >> using a small free utility called Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder which I >> got >> from http://www.magicaljellybean.com . This avoided the problem of >> having >> to reinstall Windows from scratch. I then installed my OEM version onto >> another PC and it activated with no problems. I have read on another >> group >> that when you purchase an OEM disk you effectively become the >> manufacturer >> and it is your decision as to when the PC becomes a different PC. Mine >> was >> still the original PC case with everything inside replaced and I decided >> that this constituted an upgrade to the original machine. I would >> stress >> that, like you, I had paid for and had the legal title to both CD Keys >> but >> needed to move them around. I suggest you give it a try and see what >> happens. >> -- >> Keith W >> Sunbury on Thames >> (If you can't laugh at life, it ain't worth living) >> >> >>
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