Ugrading from Windows ME to XP

[laura]

I gave my stepmother an old computer. The computer originally had Windows 98
on it and upgraded it to XP Home addition. She recently passed away and we
are disposing of the computer. This computer is actually older than my
father's computer which has ME on it.

Can I take my operating disks from the the computer that will be disposed of
and install them on my Dad's computer which has Windows ME on it? The system
was licensed to the old computer.

If we can't do that, we probably will switch out the drives, but it will
still be easier to upgrade my Dads than doing all the switching.

When I upgraded the computer I gave to my mom, I put in a new hard drive.
Because I had also replaced the monitor and the printer, we had a miserable
time getting XP to be valid. We spent hours with Microsoft on the phone (It
was free then). Will have this same problem if I try to upgrade my Dad's
computer???
Remember . . .The other computer is too old to give away so we are getting
rid of.

 

[Mike M]

Laura,

If the copy of XP was an OEM copy then legally it cannot be installed on
another computer but given that you used the disks to upgrade a system
running Win 98 then your copy of XP Home is in all likelihood a retail
copy which is a good thing. You should be able to check this from reading
what is written on the disks or packaging. Whilst OEM operating systems
are tied to the computer on which they were first installed this is not
the case for retail copies which are freely transferable between computers
PROVIDE THAT only one PC is running the operating system at any one time.

If, having installed XP, it does not activate when you attempt this
on-line ring Microsoft (you should use the number offered when your
activation fails) and explain that you are installing a retail copy of XP
Home and that the PC on which it was originally installed has now been
destroyed/broken up. Don't say sold or given away as that might suggest
that it still has the operating system installed and could still be
capable of working.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com


laura <laura@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I gave my stepmother an old computer. The computer originally had
> Windows 98 on it and upgraded it to XP Home addition. She recently
> passed away and we are disposing of the computer. This computer is
> actually older than my father's computer which has ME on it.
>
> Can I take my operating disks from the the computer that will be
> disposed of and install them on my Dad's computer which has Windows
> ME on it? The system was licensed to the old computer.
>
> If we can't do that, we probably will switch out the drives, but it
> will still be easier to upgrade my Dads than doing all the switching.
>
> When I upgraded the computer I gave to my mom, I put in a new hard
> drive. Because I had also replaced the monitor and the printer, we
> had a miserable time getting XP to be valid. We spent hours with
> Microsoft on the phone (It was free then). Will have this same
> problem if I try to upgrade my Dad's computer???
> Remember . . .The other computer is too old to give away so we are
> getting rid of.

 

[Ron Martell]

laura <laura@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I gave my stepmother an old computer. The computer originally had Windows 98
>on it and upgraded it to XP Home addition. She recently passed away and we
>are disposing of the computer. This computer is actually older than my
>father's computer which has ME on it.
>
>Can I take my operating disks from the the computer that will be disposed of
>and install them on my Dad's computer which has Windows ME on it? The system
>was licensed to the old computer.
>
>If we can't do that, we probably will switch out the drives, but it will
>still be easier to upgrade my Dads than doing all the switching.
>
>When I upgraded the computer I gave to my mom, I put in a new hard drive.
>Because I had also replaced the monitor and the printer, we had a miserable
>time getting XP to be valid. We spent hours with Microsoft on the phone (It
>was free then). Will have this same problem if I try to upgrade my Dad's
>computer???
>Remember . . .The other computer is too old to give away so we are getting
>rid of.

Mike has given you the information you need. To double check and
ensure that the installed Windows XP is not an OEM open Control Panel
- System and look at the 20 character product i.d. value shown as the
last line in the "Registered to:" section. If the second segment (3
characters) of the product i.d. reads OEM then the installed XP is an
OEM version and the OEM license restrictions apply. If the secod
segment is numeric then the installed XP is not OEM (could be retail,
volume license, academic etc etc).

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."