[Solved] Installing XP on multiple computers

[joddle]

I have aquired a number of PCs, all Dells and all with the COAs for XP pro attatched. However I only have one CD with XP pro SP3.

 

Over the past months I have needed to change hard drives and rebuild some of the machines and without fuirther thought simply used the CD I have to install XP on four of the machines. However I now note that all these machines show the same registration number on the Systm Properties panel.

 

I have had no problems at all with any of the machines, all of which are updating fine but should I not be using the COA numbers somewhere in the installation? - however nothing at all was asked for at the time I di the installs? Any information appreciated. Thanks.

[KenB]

Hi,

 

I have never known an installation not to ask for the Product Key.

 

This is a legal copy of XP that you have ?

 

You can change the Product Key

click here

 

This assumes that the COA sticker shows the same OS as the install CD.

When you change the key it will need to be verified.

[joddle]

Hi,

 

I have never known an installation not to ask for the Product Key.

 

This is a legal copy of XP that you have ?

 

You can change the Product Key

click here

 

This assumes that the COA sticker shows the same OS as the install CD.

When you change the key it will need to be verified.

 

The XP cd was supplied with one of the PCs and seems to be a Dell product saying for "reinstallation on a Dell PC". The problem is I have several Dells which were wiped but they all have the COAs for Windows pro but I only have this one CD. This seems to be an OEM product (whatever that means) but as I said everything aappears to work fine!

 

If I have problems then perhaps I should try and change the product code to the ones on the COA stickers as in the notes you have provided. I am assuming If I do that all the PCS would then have unique product codes!

[KenB]

Hi,

 

This seems to be an OEM product

The OEM ( Original Equipment Manufacturer ) should be one installation on one machine.

[this is why you were not asked for the Product Code]

The installation is tied to the original Motherboard - so if the motherboard dies then it should be a new m/b and a new OS.

( as I see it :) )

 

I am surprised that the 4 machines have been verified - unless the installation CD has a volume license.

[joddle]

Thanks for the above - would having a MS non OEM XP disk disk mean I could then install a proper version on each machine with the correct licence code from the COA ?

 

I have not changed the MB on any of the machines - the COA is the right one for each of them so Microsoft are not losing out - I am not pirateing - I simply want the correct OS product code on the correct machine as origionally paid for - its just I don't have the origional disks for each machine. There must me a proper way to do this!

Edited July 18, 2012 by joddle

[Synapse]

would having a MS non OEM XP disk disk mean I could then install a proper version on each machine with the correct licence code from the COA ?

 

No. Any O/S COA affixed by the PC manufacturer is OEM. A non OEM, so Retail or Volume CD will not work with OEM product keys.

 

To do it 100% by Microsoft's rules, you would at this point have to buy a new install for all your PC's. Not nice I know, Microsoft say that the CD and COA go together and when one has gone the other must not be used - and you wonder why they are richer than us !!!

 

The CD you already have is just a modded version with an extra folder for the Dell add ons.

 

Back to the real world, as long as you are sure the COA's are XP Pro and are the ones that were affixed at manufacture time, you need XP Professional OEM.

 

There is one for sale on a popular auction site at the moment. It will install XP Pro with your product keys on all your machines.

Edited July 18, 2012 by Synapse

[joddle]

So much to learn here!!! The old grey cell are just about keeping up

 

I have however just received a communicaiton from someone in the Social Media and Community Team at Dell who has stated the following.---

 

You do not need to change the product keys in any of the computers. The COA product license serial number for each Dell is stored in its BIOS. This is the reason, why during the windows installation, you were not prompted to enter the product key / windows serial number at any stage.

 

This appears to be very usefull info and so may be of use to others... Can this be put somewhere where it can get accessed easily?

[KenB]

So much to learn here!!!

As my PC Experience says ......"Learning all the time" :)