JanV said:
Hi,
I'm going to be formatting and installing a full version of xp home
on an older pc (previously had windows xp pro) by request. The
windows xp home cd says it can be used three times. I don't know
how many times it's been used as I don't own it. I just want to
know, before formatting the drive, if there is one more use on the
windows xp home cd. How can I tell if I will be able to use the
windows xp home cd? Does it tell you how many more times it has
been used once inserted in the cd drive?
Sorry if this sounds dumb, I just don't know how to tell otherwise.
It was purchased about a year ago, legitamitely, from a retail
store. My memory fails me sometimes, but I think it was circuit
city. When we first used it, it said it can be used three times on
three different computers. I was surprised myself the first time I
installed it for them over an older operating system.
I'm just trying to figure out if there is still one use left.
Have just gotten the windows xp home sp2 box, it does say on the
outside one time use. When I first installed it on someone's pc,
the disk said it could be used three times. Now I'm stumped.
It might turn out that I won't be able to use it after all, it says
on the box that it can only be used with pc's that have windows 98,
windows 98 se, and windows millenium. All that thinking for nothing.
Actual *box*, purchased from Circuit City including the mention of
upgrading...?
Sounds like a retail version of Windows XP.
If it is a Retail Boxed version of Windows XP (99% sure it is by your
description...)
Means you can install it indefinitely on any one computer (at a time) until
you feel you are tired of doing so. Anything else you inferred, were told,
remembered and so on - is incorrect.
Worst case - which it does not sound like - you have an OEM license. With
the OEM license you can install as many times as you like on any single
machine - but you can never install on a different machine.
Next worse - you have the Upgrade edition (it would say UPGRADE) on the box
and the CD - and that CD can only be used if you have qualifying media (such
as Windows 98 and Windows ME...) lying around. Beyond that - there is no
limit on number of times there either.
In other words - your assumptions are likely just that - assumptions and
*incorrect* assumptions at that. You are 'reading into' things you are
seeing/read as well as incorrect stuff you may have heard from other people.
There is no 'number of installations' limit on anything you could have
bought at 'Circuit City'. ;-)
