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Who has the license for XP, he or I?

M

mm

Flightless Bird
I'm still confused by licensing. I hope you can help me.

A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
computer to me.

Who has the license for XP, he or I?

I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.

Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.



As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
XP that I bought legitimately.

I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
computer to run XP on the internet.

Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?

If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
the Dell computer?

Thanks.
 
C

Cheng Heng

Flightless Bird
Don't worry about Microsoft License because it is completely
gimmicky and not worth the paper it is written on. Microsoft has
given up on Vista so it doesn't matter who owns it now. From
1914, you can also have Windows XP and you won't have to worry
about license because Microsoft will stop all support for it and
therefore it loses its rights to enforce anything on customers.

Why are you worried about Licenses so late in the year? Steve B
has given up on visiting all its customers to check if they are
using legitimate products and instead given this task to Piggy
Bear who hasn't got a clue what he is supposed to do. All he says
is to scan your system with all the scanners on this planet and
you are OK.

Go and visit Microsoft website and download all the updates you
get for free. Don't worry about license now.

mm wrote:
>
> I'm still confused by licensing. I hope you can help me.
>
> A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
> running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
> computer to me.
>
> Who has the license for XP, he or I?
>
> I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
> letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.
>
> Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
> because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.
>
> As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
> XP that I bought legitimately.
>
> I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
> installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
> computer to run XP on the internet.
>
> Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
> and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?
>
> If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
> the Dell computer?
>
> Thanks.
 
B

BillW50

Flightless Bird
In news:6dv276ltp4ln8n124hqqap4vofdlhq60h9@4ax.com,
mm typed on Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:52:39 -0400:
> I'm still confused by licensing. I hope you can help me.
>
> A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
> running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
> computer to me.
>
> Who has the license for XP, he or I?
>
> I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
> letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.


Well the licensing is worded funny. But if he isn't using it (and if it
is an OEM copy he can't really anyway) and you have the computer minus
the hard drive, then it is yours!

> Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
> because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.
>
> As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
> XP that I bought legitimately.
>
> I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
> installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
> computer to run XP on the internet.


Cloning from one XP system to another in 99.999% of the cases won't work
(even if it was Vista or Windows 7 either). The easiest is to take your
retail XP install and reinstall on this computer with your key that came
with it.

Yes what a pain in the butt. There are updates and applications and many
other stuff. And the only other hope is Paragon's Adaptive Restore or
Acronis Universal Restore. They are supposed to move Windows to unlike
hardware. Although the rumor is it isn't 100% successful. So you are
back with the plan to use your original XP retail install and starting
from scratch.

> Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
> and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?


Can't use a Vista OEM key with an XP retail version anyway.

> If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
> the Dell computer?
>
> Thanks.


No!

--
Bill
Gateway MX6124 ('06 era) 1 of 3 - Windows XP SP2
 
L

Leroy

Flightless Bird
A Dell OEM Windows XP license can only be installed and activated on the
original Dell computer it came with. It will not activate on a non-Dell
computer.

mm wrote:
> I'm still confused by licensing. I hope you can help me.
>
> A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
> running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
> computer to me.
>
> Who has the license for XP, he or I?
>
> I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
> letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.
>
> Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
> because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.
>
>
>
> As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
> XP that I bought legitimately.
>
> I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
> installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
> computer to run XP on the internet.
>
> Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
> and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?
>
> If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
> the Dell computer?
>
> Thanks.
 
B

BillW50

Flightless Bird
In news:esdVbyjQLHA.5388@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl,
Leroy typed on Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:57:12 -0500:
> A Dell OEM Windows XP license can only be installed and activated on
> the original Dell computer it came with. It will not activate on a
> non-Dell computer.


Actually there are many cases that it will. Not all of them will, but
some don't care. Anyway the original one in question came with Vista and
the OP wants to take their retail XP version and move it to this Dell.
Nothing wrong with that legally as long as they don't use the XP that it
was originally installed on. And this is completely legal. Although that
key label on the Dell computer is completely worthless without the
original Vista OS. Which isn't important in this case anyway.

--
Bill
Gateway MX6124 ('06 era) 1 of 3 - Windows XP SP2
 
M

mm

Flightless Bird
On Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:57:12 -0500, Leroy <leroy@earthlink.net> wrote:

Thanks for replying.

>A Dell OEM Windows XP license can only be installed and activated on the
>original Dell computer it came with. It will not activate on a non-Dell
>computer.


Right. I have the original Dell computer that it came with, complete
with the sticker on the side. I'm just replacing the missing hard
drive.

If I've cloned the harddrive from my current computer, it will also
have info about my current computer's license one the hard drive, but
I figured MS will notice that all the hardware other than the hardrive
has changed, and will ask me to enter the Product Key to verify that
this is the new and only cmoputer to use that license I bought a few
years ago. Instead I'll enter the Product Key that goes with the Dell
I just got. Do you think that will work?
>
>mm wrote:
>> I'm still confused by licensing. I hope you can help me.
>>
>> A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
>> running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
>> computer to me.
>>
>> Who has the license for XP, he or I?
>>
>> I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
>> letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.
>>
>> Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
>> because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.
>>
>>
>>
>> As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
>> XP that I bought legitimately.
>>
>> I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
>> installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
>> computer to run XP on the internet.
>>
>> Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
>> and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?
>>
>> If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
>> the Dell computer?
>>
>> Thanks.
 
M

mm

Flightless Bird
On Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:06:19 -0500, "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote:

>In news:esdVbyjQLHA.5388@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl,
>Leroy typed on Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:57:12 -0500:
>> A Dell OEM Windows XP license can only be installed and activated on
>> the original Dell computer it came with. It will not activate on a
>> non-Dell computer.

>
>Actually there are many cases that it will. Not all of them will, but
>some don't care. Anyway the original one in question came with Vista and


No, I'm sorry, it came with XP. I shouldn't have mentioned that my
friend moved to Vista. I shouldn't have mentioned Vista at all. My
bad.

>the OP wants to take their retail XP version and move it to this Dell.
>Nothing wrong with that legally as long as they don't use the XP that it
>was originally installed on.


No, I"m sorry, I want to keep using my XP on the computer it was
originally installed on. I want to use the origianl Dell XP license
on the Dell. I figure since all the hardware will have changed for
MY XP license, MS will want to know which computer is really the
computer for my licence, and instead of saying "Move the license to
the Dell", I thought I thought I would have the opporutnity to enter
the XP Product Key that came with the Dell.

>And this is completely legal. Although that
>key label on the Dell computer is completely worthless without the
>original Vista OS. Which isn't important in this case anyway.
 
P

Patok

Flightless Bird
mm wrote:
> On Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:57:12 -0500, Leroy <leroy@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> Thanks for replying.
>
>> A Dell OEM Windows XP license can only be installed and activated on the
>> original Dell computer it came with. It will not activate on a non-Dell
>> computer.

>
> Right. I have the original Dell computer that it came with, complete
> with the sticker on the side. I'm just replacing the missing hard
> drive.
>
> If I've cloned the harddrive from my current computer, it will also
> have info about my current computer's license one the hard drive, but
> I figured MS will notice that all the hardware other than the hardrive
> has changed, and will ask me to enter the Product Key to verify that
> this is the new and only cmoputer to use that license I bought a few
> years ago. Instead I'll enter the Product Key that goes with the Dell
> I just got. Do you think that will work?
>> mm wrote:
>>> I'm still confused by licensing. I hope you can help me.
>>>
>>> A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
>>> running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
>>> computer to me.
>>>
>>> Who has the license for XP, he or I?
>>>
>>> I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
>>> letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.
>>>
>>> Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
>>> because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
>>> XP that I bought legitimately.
>>>
>>> I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
>>> installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
>>> computer to run XP on the internet.
>>>
>>> Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
>>> and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?
>>>
>>> If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
>>> the Dell computer?



You can just try and see if it works. :) I see two possible
stumbling blocks - mismatched drivers, and mismatched XP versions.
You can try to get around the first one by booting the first time in
Safe Mode, and uninstalling the drivers for the hardware that is
different from the one of the cloned drive's computer - video, audio,
whatnot. You will need the drivers for the Dell, of course, which you
can download beforehand from the Dell support site. I'd suggest you
download all available drivers for the model - even the bios, if they
have a newer one and your friend has never updated. Save them somewhere
where they will be available - maybe make a folder on the cloned drive
before you put it into the Dell. After uninstalling the olde drivers, it
will discover new hardware and you can point it to the folder to install
them with have disk.
The second one is more tricky - I don't know if product keys for an
OEM Dell XP installation will work with a retail XP version (what I
understand you have). It may well be that it asks for a product key, you
enter the one from the case, and it refuses to accept it, because of
that mismatch. I expect somebody here that knows about this specific
issue to shed some light.
If it helps, I saw that I have an OEM Dell XP Pro SP1 reinstallation
CD lying around, together with a product key, from a long defunct
computer. I could get it over to you, if you want, but I don't know if
it will really help, because that would mean re-installing (I'm not sure
if you can repair the XP on the disk using the CD, as it will be to an
earlier version).

--
You'd be crazy to e-mail me with the crazy. But leave the div alone.
--
Whoever bans a book, shall be banished. Whoever burns a book, shall burn.
 
T

Tester

Flightless Bird
On 22/08/2010 21:57, Leroy wrote:
> A Dell OEM Windows XP license can only be installed and activated on the
> original Dell computer it came with. It will not activate on a non-Dell
> computer.
>


Nutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU HAVEN'T TRIED IT BOY!
 
C

Craven Moorehead

Flightless Bird
The HoopleHead strikes again.
"Cheng Heng" <"Cheng. Heng"@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4C718D52.930A28EC@microsoft.com...
> Don't worry about Microsoft License because it is completely
> gimmicky and not worth the paper it is written on. Microsoft has
> given up on Vista so it doesn't matter who owns it now. From
> 1914, you can also have Windows XP and you won't have to worry
> about license because Microsoft will stop all support for it and
> therefore it loses its rights to enforce anything on customers.
>
> Why are you worried about Licenses so late in the year? Steve B
> has given up on visiting all its customers to check if they are
> using legitimate products and instead given this task to Piggy
> Bear who hasn't got a clue what he is supposed to do. All he says
> is to scan your system with all the scanners on this planet and
> you are OK.
>
> Go and visit Microsoft website and download all the updates you
> get for free. Don't worry about license now.
>
> mm wrote:
>>
>> I'm still confused by licensing. I hope you can help me.
>>
>> A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
>> running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
>> computer to me.
>>
>> Who has the license for XP, he or I?
>>
>> I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
>> letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.
>>
>> Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
>> because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.
>>
>> As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
>> XP that I bought legitimately.
>>
>> I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
>> installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
>> computer to run XP on the internet.
>>
>> Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
>> and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?
>>
>> If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
>> the Dell computer?
>>
>> Thanks.
 
P

Patok

Flightless Bird
mm wrote:
> On Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:57:12 -0500, Leroy <leroy@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> Thanks for replying.
>
>> A Dell OEM Windows XP license can only be installed and activated on the
>> original Dell computer it came with. It will not activate on a non-Dell
>> computer.

>
> Right. I have the original Dell computer that it came with, complete
> with the sticker on the side. I'm just replacing the missing hard
> drive.
>
> If I've cloned the harddrive from my current computer, it will also
> have info about my current computer's license one the hard drive, but
> I figured MS will notice that all the hardware other than the hardrive
> has changed, and will ask me to enter the Product Key to verify that
> this is the new and only cmoputer to use that license I bought a few
> years ago. Instead I'll enter the Product Key that goes with the Dell
> I just got. Do you think that will work?
>> mm wrote:
>>> I'm still confused by licensing. I hope you can help me.
>>>
>>> A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
>>> running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
>>> computer to me.
>>>
>>> Who has the license for XP, he or I?
>>>
>>> I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
>>> letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.
>>>
>>> Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
>>> because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
>>> XP that I bought legitimately.
>>>
>>> I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
>>> installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
>>> computer to run XP on the internet.
>>>
>>> Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
>>> and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?
>>>
>>> If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
>>> the Dell computer?



You can just try and see if it works. :) I see two possible
stumbling blocks - mismatched drivers, and mismatched XP versions.
You can try to get around the first one by booting the first time in
Safe Mode, and uninstalling the drivers for the hardware that is
different from the one of the cloned drive's computer - video, audio,
whatnot. You will need the drivers for the Dell, of course, which you
can download beforehand from the Dell support site. I'd suggest you
download all available drivers for the model - even the bios, if they
have a newer one and your friend has never updated. Save them somewhere
where they will be available - maybe make a folder on the cloned drive
before you put it into the Dell. After uninstalling the olde drivers, it
will discover new hardware and you can point it to the folder to install
them with have disk.
The second one is more tricky - I don't know if product keys for an
OEM Dell XP installation will work with a retail XP version (what I
understand you have). It may well be that it asks for a product key, you
enter the one from the case, and it refuses to accept it, because of
that mismatch. I expect somebody here that knows about this specific
issue to shed some light.
If it helps, I saw that I have an OEM Dell XP Pro SP1 reinstallation
CD lying around, together with a product key, from a long defunct
computer. I could get it over to you, if you want, but I don't know if
it will really help, because that would mean re-installing (I'm not sure
if you can repair the XP on the disk using the CD, as it will be to an
earlier version).
 
S

smlunatick

Flightless Bird
On Aug 22, 8:52 pm, mm <NOPSAMmm2...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
> I'm still confused by licensing.  I hope you can help me.
>
> A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
> running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
> computer to me.
>
> Who has the license for XP, he or I?
>
> I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
> letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.
>
> Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
> because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.
>
> As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
> XP that I bought legitimately.
>
> I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
> installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
> computer to run XP on the internet.
>
> Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
> and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?
>
> If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
> the Dell computer?
>
> Thanks.


The Dell "licensed" version of Windows is "usually" tied to the first
"original" Dell motherboard and not the hard drive. Dell version's of
XP can require the "original" recovery system which could have been a
hidden partition on the "removed" hard drive.
 
M

mm

Flightless Bird
On Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:14:01 -0700 (PDT), smlunatick
<yveslec@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Aug 22, 8:52 pm, mm <NOPSAMmm2...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>> I'm still confused by licensing.  I hope you can help me.
>>
>> A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
>> running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
>> computer to me.
>>
>> Who has the license for XP, he or I?
>>
>> I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
>> letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.
>>
>> Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
>> because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.
>>
>> As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
>> XP that I bought legitimately.
>>
>> I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
>> installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
>> computer to run XP on the internet.
>>
>> Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
>> and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?
>>
>> If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
>> the Dell computer?
>>
>> Thanks.

>
>The Dell "licensed" version of Windows is "usually" tied to the first
>"original" Dell motherboard and not the hard drive. Dell version's of
>XP can require the "original" recovery system which could have been a
>hidden partition on the "removed" hard drive.


OOOO. That's bad for me.

Hmmm, what's an owner supposed to do if his hard drive totally fails?
The hidden partition fails too. :)
 
M

mm

Flightless Bird
On Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:08:08 -0400, Patok
<patok@pataklama.net.invalid> wrote:

>
> You can just try and see if it works. :)


Thanks.

I guess I'm inevitably going to have to, but it sounds like it won't
fail until I've done almost all the work. :(

Longer answer planned for later.
 
G

Ghostrider

Flightless Bird
On 8/23/2010 2:13 PM, mm wrote:
> On Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:14:01 -0700 (PDT), smlunatick
> <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Aug 22, 8:52 pm, mm<NOPSAMmm2...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>>> I'm still confused by licensing. I hope you can help me.
>>>
>>> A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
>>> running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
>>> computer to me.
>>>
>>> Who has the license for XP, he or I?
>>>
>>> I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
>>> letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.
>>>
>>> Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
>>> because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.
>>>
>>> As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
>>> XP that I bought legitimately.
>>>
>>> I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
>>> installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
>>> computer to run XP on the internet.
>>>
>>> Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
>>> and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?
>>>
>>> If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
>>> the Dell computer?
>>>
>>> Thanks.

>>
>> The Dell "licensed" version of Windows is "usually" tied to the first
>> "original" Dell motherboard and not the hard drive. Dell version's of
>> XP can require the "original" recovery system which could have been a
>> hidden partition on the "removed" hard drive.

>
> OOOO. That's bad for me.
>
> Hmmm, what's an owner supposed to do if his hard drive totally fails?
> The hidden partition fails too. :)


The last resort is the "Recovery Disc" that is
supposed to restore the system to its condition
at the time it left the factory.

Failing that and being a Dell computer, a matching
Dell-branded Windows XP disc would install. It would
not even ask for the Product Key.

GR
 
M

mm

Flightless Bird
On Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:08:22 -0700, Ghostrider <" <00> wrote:

>On 8/23/2010 2:13 PM, mm wrote:
>> On Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:14:01 -0700 (PDT), smlunatick
>> <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On Aug 22, 8:52 pm, mm<NOPSAMmm2...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>>>> I'm still confused by licensing. I hope you can help me.
>>>>
>>>> A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
>>>> running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
>>>> computer to me.
>>>>
>>>> Who has the license for XP, he or I?
>>>>
>>>> I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
>>>> letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.
>>>>
>>>> Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
>>>> because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.
>>>>
>>>> As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
>>>> XP that I bought legitimately.
>>>>
>>>> I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
>>>> installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
>>>> computer to run XP on the internet.
>>>>
>>>> Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
>>>> and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?
>>>>
>>>> If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
>>>> the Dell computer?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> The Dell "licensed" version of Windows is "usually" tied to the first
>>> "original" Dell motherboard and not the hard drive. Dell version's of
>>> XP can require the "original" recovery system which could have been a
>>> hidden partition on the "removed" hard drive.

>>
>> OOOO. That's bad for me.
>>
>> Hmmm, what's an owner supposed to do if his hard drive totally fails?
>> The hidden partition fails too. :)


Thanks for your reply.

>The last resort is the "Recovery Disc" that is
>supposed to restore the system to its condition
>at the time it left the factory.


Oh, yeah, I've seen those, I think.

I'm surprised my friend didn't give it to me with the computer. He
also didn't give me the metal bracket that holds the 2nd hard drive in
place. I should ask him about that.

If he doesn't have it, would I have to get it for the same model
computer a Dell Inspiron 9600, or would any XP work, do you think?
>
>Failing that and being a Dell computer, a matching


What do you mean "matching"? Inspiron 9600?

>Dell-branded Windows XP disc would install. It would
>not even ask for the Product Key.


Thanks a lot.

>GR
 
E

edfair

Flightless Bird
Your Dell CD key will install fine with a matching OEM CD. The problem
is that there are at least 3 different versions and it takes most of an
install to find out that you have the wrong one.

You would be better off getting the restore CD from your friend. Or
finding one from somewhere else.
 
M

mm

Flightless Bird
On Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:33:21 -0500, edfair
<edfair.4g6aqm@no.email.invalid> wrote:

>
>Your Dell CD key will install fine with a matching OEM CD. The problem
>is that there are at least 3 different versions and it takes most of an
>install to find out that you have the wrong one.
>
>You would be better off getting the restore CD from your friend. Or
>finding one from somewhere else.


I see what you mean. I'll try my friend, and then somewhere else.
 
M

mm

Flightless Bird
On Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:37:20 -0400, Patok <crazy.div.patok@gmail.com>
wrote:

>mm wrote:
>> On Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:57:12 -0500, Leroy <leroy@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks for replying.
>>
>>> A Dell OEM Windows XP license can only be installed and activated on the
>>> original Dell computer it came with. It will not activate on a non-Dell
>>> computer.

>>
>> Right. I have the original Dell computer that it came with, complete
>> with the sticker on the side. I'm just replacing the missing hard
>> drive.
>>
>> If I've cloned the harddrive from my current computer, it will also
>> have info about my current computer's license one the hard drive, but
>> I figured MS will notice that all the hardware other than the hardrive
>> has changed, and will ask me to enter the Product Key to verify that
>> this is the new and only cmoputer to use that license I bought a few
>> years ago. Instead I'll enter the Product Key that goes with the Dell
>> I just got. Do you think that will work?
>>> mm wrote:
>>>> I'm still confused by licensing. I hope you can help me.
>>>>
>>>> A friend who only uses and only wants one computer, bought a new one
>>>> running Vista, removed the hard drive from his Dell XP, and gave the
>>>> computer to me.
>>>>
>>>> Who has the license for XP, he or I?
>>>>
>>>> I think I do. The Product Key, I think it is called, the 25 or 30
>>>> letter code is on a sticker on the side of the Dell.
>>>>
>>>> Plus my friend doesn't need it, doesn't want it, isn't using it,
>>>> because he bought a new computer with its own Vista license.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> As to my current computer, I assembled it myself using a valid copy of
>>>> XP that I bought legitimately.
>>>>
>>>> I was planning on cloning my current harddrive to a SATA drive, and
>>>> installing that in my friend's computer, but I still want my current
>>>> computer to run XP on the internet.
>>>>
>>>> Will the new DELL computer complain that all the hardware has changed,
>>>> and ask me to enter the 25 letter Product Key again?
>>>>
>>>> If so, can I just enter the Product Key from the sticker that is on
>>>> the Dell computer?

>
>
> You can just try and see if it works. :) I see two possible
>stumbling blocks - mismatched drivers, and mismatched XP versions.
> You can try to get around the first one by booting the first time in
>Safe Mode, and uninstalling the drivers for the hardware that is
>different from the one of the cloned drive's computer - video, audio,
>whatnot. You will need the drivers for the Dell, of course, which you
>can download beforehand from the Dell support site. I'd suggest you
>download all available drivers for the model - even the bios, if they
>have a newer one and your friend has never updated.


I'm sure he's never updated. I'll get all the drivers as you say.
Dell seems to have that part pretty well organized. I didn't start
yet, but I got the impression you can display a list of them, check
off the ones you want, and dl them all with one click.

> Save them somewhere
>where they will be available - maybe make a folder on the cloned drive
>before you put it into the Dell. After uninstalling the olde drivers, it
>will discover new hardware and you can point it to the folder to install
>them with have disk.


I get it. I read this and was also looking for image/backup software.
Some of them might help to "automoate this".

Because I have an ATA drive and this one seems to use a SATA drive, I
think I can't just put my old drive in the new computer. So I've
learned a lot about transferring all my files to another drive and
making it bootable. A couple back=up programs are designed for this.
One is Acronis True Image Home 2010 if you also buy the Plus Pack. I
think the first is 30 dollars and don't know if the "sale price" for
the second is permanent or, as they imply, not, but now it's 10
dollars for the Plus Pack which includss what they call Universal
Restore. I have to read the details again but at the least it tells
you where to put drivers for the new hard drive and then installs them
when you first boot the new computer. Then maybe it tells you where
to put all the other drivers and it finds them on the first boot, and
iiuc there is a third stage where it finds drivers from the CAB files
or online that you didn't put in the special place.

> The second one is more tricky - I don't know if product keys for an
>OEM Dell XP installation will work with a retail XP version (what I
>understand you have).


Yes, that's what I have and I bet you're right.

> It may well be that it asks for a product key, you
>enter the one from the case, and it refuses to accept it, because of
>that mismatch. I expect somebody here that knows about this specific
>issue to shed some light.
> If it helps, I saw that I have an OEM Dell XP Pro SP1 reinstallation
>CD lying around, together with a product key, from a long defunct
>computer. I could get it over to you, if you want, but I don't know if
>it will really help, because that would mean re-installing (I'm not sure
>if you can repair the XP on the disk using the CD, as it will be to an
>earlier version).


Yes, I see that these can be serious problems. I appreciate your
offer of the Product Key. I'll probably end up doing this in the
middle of the night. I'll let you know if I actually use it. If I
don't, you can give it to someone else.

My email address is mm2005 attt bigfoot dottt com.

Thanks a lot.

MM
 
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