Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (
More info?)
In news:F85E1BB3-927A-480A-A3A4-90998D664570@microsoft.com,
FL Consultant <FLConsultant@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:
> Sorry if I confused you.
>
>
> Your last comments gets to my questions. I thought that with
> the new
> Microsoft registration system they were preventing users from
> useing
> one copy of a software package on more than one computer. That
> is
> why they now require you to register the software or it is not
> useable after so many days. So to move the software to another
> computer, I thought that I would have to unregister it or I
> would
> have a problem when I placed the software on another computer.
>
> Does that help you understand my question?
Yes, thanks.
First, you're confusing "activation" and "registration."
Registration is a completely optional procedure, and has nothing
to do with preventing use on two machines.
Activation is what's required, and unlike registration, is
completely anonymous. It identifies the hardware (sort of), not
the person who bought Winodws.
If you're registered it, it identifies you as a Windows XP user
(more for marketing purposes than anything else). As I said, it's
neither necessary nor possible to unregister.
If you've *activated *a copy of Windows and want to move it to
another computer (see below for restrictions), you need to
activate it on the new computer. It's also neither necessary nor
possible to unactivate. The process of reactivation changes that
hardware identification to the new machine. If it's been more
than 120 days, reactivation over the internet should work just
like the first time; if fewer than 120 days, you'll be prompted
to do it by a voice phone call (also quick and easy).
However the situation is somewhat different with OEM versions
(since yours came with your Dell, it's an OEM version). The
license for retail versions permits them to be moved to a
different computer as I explained above, but that's *not* true of
OEM licenses. An OEM version is permanently tied to the first
machine it's installed on and it can never legally be used on
another.
Moreover as I said, even without the licensing considerations,
that Dell OEM CD would probably not work on an HP.
--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup
> Thank you for your help.
>
>
>
>> In news:39BE7481-A088-4992-AF98-25E143815BBB@microsoft.com,
>> FL Consultant <FLConsultant@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:
>>
>>> I recently learned that I can not use the upgrade copy of XP
>>> Pro that
>>> I own and used to upgrade from XP Home on my Dell Notebook
>>> computer.
>>
>>
>> Sorry, I'm having a lot of trouble understanding that
>> sentence.
>> First you say you can *not* use it, then you say you did. Can
>> you
>> clarify this, please?
>>
>> Do you mean that you can't use it on a second computer? That's
>> correct.
>>
>>
>>
>>> Dell is sending me a full version of XP Pro so I can format
>>> and
>>> load
>>> it.
>>
>>
>> On your notebook? What was the problem with using the upgrade
>> version?
>>
>>
>>> I registered the Upgrade version of XP Pro with Microsoft.
>>> How
>>> do I
>>> unregister the copy so I can give it to my Brother since I
>>> not
>>> longer
>>> need it and he currently has XP Home and an HP notebook?
>>
>>
>> There are several issues here. First, there's no such thing as
>> "unregistering," nor is it necessary. Second, the Dell CD is
>> probably customized for your computer (or even BIOS-locked to
>> it), and will very likely not work on his HP computer. Third,
>> it's an OEM version, and if you did install it on your
>> machine,
>> then its license is permanently tied to that machine and can
>> never legally be used on another.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
>> Please reply to the newsgroup
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