Before you shout "Law-breaker!" hear me out. I have an old copy of Windows XP Pro that I no longer use. Problem is, it's registered to this system. I want to install it to a laptop. My understanding is that the license is non-transferable and it'll be unable to authenticate it and go to the trail period. Any help here? Maybe someone wants to tell me I'm delusional and it wont actually happen that way? (This is how my software engineer father explained it.) I'm planning on dual booting Fedora, but I'd be okay with going with only Fedora if there's no way. (I can't use Ubuntu or I'd be disowned since my father works for RedHat and develops for Fedora...) (I haven't tried yet because the laptop isn't actually in my possession yet...)
ive installed the same copy of windows xp on over 30 different systems (yes legal copy) just tell them that you had to replace your hard drive and its the same system they really don't know any different or just download a custom windows xp, I have one that is windows xp sp3 black edition NO Key Code and No Activation
If its a retail copy you purchased in a shop just call Microsoft up and they will happily activate it on the new PC for you (as long as it has been removed from the other pc) However if its an OEM copy that came pre installed on a PC then they will not let you transfer it, however you could try and tell a few lies saying the motherboard failed and you had to replace it.
I'm pretty positive it isn't an OEM copy - we built this computer. It even says "Not for retail or OEM Distribution." on the disk. What info would I need to have? All I've got is the disk in a paper case with an XXX-XXXXX number on the back. I have no idea what my Volume License Product Key would look like. I doubt the motherboard line would work - I'd be running it on laptop hardware, when it was originally on a desktop. Of course, they might not look too closely. And, I don't pirate software, Bigrod. Unless its abandonware.
You should be fine then, all you need is your CD key which you will find on the certificate of authenticity (see below). Install Windows as you would then once you have the drivers installed try and activate it, it will fail and give you the option to ring Microsoft. Do so and go through the process and they should activate it for you with no problems. As you have a retail copy no need to lie, you can transfer your licence to another PC as long as you have erased the Windows install from the previous PC it was on.
That's if you can get Microsoft todo anything they stopped support XP (about 2 years ago) before Windows 7 came out so its 50/50, I haven't had to worry about useing XP in so long lol the last time I used it I never activated because I only put it on a system to flash a phone and haven't touched it since then
XP is in extended support until April 2014, so you will still be able to activate it until at least then. I think they did stop or try to stop selling XP to retail outlets a couple of years ago however.
thats cool they did when I worked for HP tech support 2 years ago the last I heard is that they were stopping all tech support and everything else but the Sp3 update
Cool. I'll let you know what happens, thanks so much for the help. I was able to find my license key buried in our file cabinet!