Buying computer from friend-will XP not work?

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I'm thinking about buying a computer from my friend...i'm probably going to change the computer some will there be a problem with XP can i just put in their HD in my current system and boot to XP or will i have to get another licsence? thnx for the help
 
JoeBobUSA22 said in
I'm thinking about buying a computer from my friend...i'm probably
going to change the computer some will there be a problem with XP can
i just put in their HD in my current system and boot to XP or will i
have to get another licsence? thnx for the help
Click to expand...

Boy, some periods and capitalization in your post would really help.

Is Windows XP coming with your friends computer that you are buying? Just where are you going to get the copy of Windows XP? Is it a retail or OEM version? If it was an OEM version on your friend's computer, it is illegal for you to move the hard drive from it into some other computer. The pre-installed OEM version in your friend's computer MUST remain with THAT computer. If it was an OEM version that your friend bought separate of the computer but with some other hardware (the OEM version must always be sold with some hardware) then you have to move over whatever was that hardware that accompanied the purchase of the OEM version of Windows. If it was a retail version, just ask your friend for the installation media (i.e., CD), the product code (mandatory), and the COA (certificate of authenticity).

It depends on the version of Windows. If retail then, yes, you can just move over the hard drive (but to cover your butt in case of later drive failure or file corruption, you better get the install CD and product key). If OEM, it's like that the license is tied to the friend's computer so you cannot move the drive to your other computer.

Just boot your friend's computer, run 'winver', click on the EULA link, and read it to see what you can do with that instance of Windows. There should be sections dealing with "transfer" that you can search for.
 
Hardware changes of that nature usually require a repair installation. See:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

JoeBobUSA22 said:
I'm thinking about buying a computer from my friend...i'm probably going
Click to expand...
to change the computer some will there be a problem with XP can i just put
in their HD in my current system and boot to XP or will i have to get
another licsence? thnx for the help
 
Sorry, it was late when I wrote the post. I appreciate the help. It looks like I can transfer the software. However, will I have to contact Microsoft to tell them of this transfer; and to get the product activated under my name?
Thank You Very Much,
Joe-Bob
 
JoeBobUSA22 said in
Sorry, it was late when I wrote the post. I appreciate the help. It
looks like I can transfer the software. However, will I have to
contact Microsoft to tell them of this transfer; and to get the
product activated under my name? Thank You Very Much,
Joe-Bob
Click to expand...

If you use the old hard drive in the old computer then, no, you shouldn't need to re-activate. However, if you move the old drive to a different computer then you will probably have to activate since way too much of the "old" system has changed (because of the motherboard, NIC, CPU, and everything else in your "new" computer environment in which you slid the drive). If the activation fails, a telephone number during the failed activate process should give you a contact to Microsoft. Call them to activate manually but be prepared to explain and prove the legal transfer of the software. They will need the product key. If it is an OEM version, say goodbye to Microsoft since you are using an illegal version that you moved from the computer to with the OEM license was tied.
 
Thank You!

*Vanguard* said:
JoeBobUSA22 said in


If you use the old hard drive in the old computer then, no, you shouldn't need to re-activate. However, if you move the old drive to a different computer then you will probably have to activate since way too much of the "old" system has changed (because of the motherboard, NIC, CPU, and everything else in your "new" computer environment in which you slid the drive). If the activation fails, a telephone number during the failed activate process should give you a contact to Microsoft. Call them to activate manually but be prepared to explain and prove the legal transfer of the software. They will need the product key. If it is an OEM version, say goodbye to Microsoft since you are using an illegal version that you moved from the computer to with the OEM license was tied.
Click to expand...
 
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