Useing one product key on two computers

[Guest]

I just bought a fresh copy of Windows XP Prof. Can I install and register the
CD with the same product key on my laptop and stationary computer at home?
Or is this only for one computer?

 

[Gordon]

I just bought a fresh copy of Windows XP Prof. Can I install and register
the
CD with the same product key on my laptop and stationary computer at home?
Or is this only for one computer?

Nope - ONE computer only.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

I doubt your desktop at home and your laptop use the same Product Key, not
if they came pre-installed from the factory. I further doubt that the new CD
will be unlocked by either of the Keys you now have. What's the matter with
the PK that came with the new CD? Or isn't there one? If not, that copy
isn't worth a hill of beans.

 

[Guest]

I doubt your desktop at home and your laptop use the same Product Key, not
if they came pre-installed from the factory. I further doubt that the new CD
will be unlocked by either of the Keys you now have. What's the matter with
the PK that came with the new CD? Or isn't there one? If not, that copy
isn't worth a hill of beans.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com




No it`s not that. I just bought a new copy of windows XP because the computers didn`t come with windows installed. Now i only want to know if i can use the same CD and key to install windows on the two computers or do i need to buy separate licenses?

 

[PA Bear]

One CD/one machine. Period.

 

[Gordon]

You can use the same CD on both machines but you need a separate Licence
(Product Key) for each.

 

[Guest]

You can use the same CD on both machines but you need a separate Licence
(Product Key) for each.



Ok, thank you!

 

[Alias]

One CD/one machine. Period.

False. Period. One *Product Key* per machine. You can use the media on
as many machines as you have product keys. One would think an MVP would
know this ...

Alias

 

[Gordon]

One CD/one machine. Period.

Uhuh! One KEY per machine - you can use the same CD on as many machines as
you like as long as you have a different key for each machine!

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I just bought a fresh copy of Windows XP Prof. Can I install and register
the
CD with the same product key on my laptop and stationary computer at home?
Or is this only for one computer?

With a couple of exceptions that don't apparently apply to you, it's one
product key per machine. If the systems all use the same windows type
(i.e., retail, OEM, upgrade, home, pro) you can use the same CD, but have to
use different keys, or the later ones won't activate.

So in your case you do need to buy two licenses for two machines.

The exceptions are with mass-produced OEM versions, where you still will
have a unique key on the system, and Volume License versions. Those allow
installs with the same key and CD for as many licenses as you have
purchased, starting at 5.

HTH
-pk

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

A License is not a Product Key. Licenses are unique, Product Keys are not.
There are Product Keys that work on hundreds of thousands or millions of
PCs.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I just bought a fresh copy of Windows XP Prof. Can I install and register the
CD with the same product key on my laptop and stationary computer at home?
Or is this only for one computer?

No. The rule is quite clear. It's one copy (or one license) for each
computer.

There's nothing new here. This is exactly the same rule that's been in
effect on every version of Windows starting with Windows 3.1. The only
thing new with XP is that there's now an enforcement mechanism.

If yours is a retail version, not an OEM one, you can buy extra
licenses (see
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp). But it's
not generally a good deal. The problem is that Microsoft sells
additional licenses at only a small savings over the list price.
You're almost certainly better off just buying a complete second copy
from a discount source.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I just bought a fresh copy of Windows XP Prof. Can I install and register the
CD with the same product key on my laptop and stationary computer at home?
Or is this only for one computer?

You need to purchase a separate WinXP license for each computer on
which you install it.

Just as it has *always* been with *all* Microsoft operating
systems, it's necessary (to be in compliance with both the EULA and U.S.
copyright law http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/117.html), if not
technically) to purchase one WinXP license for each computer on which it
is installed. (Consult an attorney versed in copyright law to determine
final applicability in your locale.) The only way in which WinXP
licensing differs from that of earlier versions of Windows is that
Microsoft has finally added a copy protection and anti-theft mechanism,
Product Activation, to prevent (or at least make more difficult)
multiple installations using a single license.

One can buy additional licenses, assuming one already has a retail
license. Naturally, Microsoft cannot sell additional OEM licenses. Be
aware, however, that you'll probably pay more this way than you would if
you were to buy a second copy of WinXP from a discount retailer;
Microsoft will only offer you a 15% discount off their MSRP.

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Home Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/addlic.asp

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp


--

Bruce Chambers

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[Plato]

I just bought a fresh copy of Windows XP Prof. Can I install and register the
CD with the same product key on my laptop and stationary computer at home?
Or is this only for one computer?

Best bet overall is to get a retail copy of XP for each PC you want to
install it on.

 

[M.I.5¾]

I just bought a fresh copy of Windows XP Prof. Can I install and register
the
CD with the same product key on my laptop and stationary computer at home?
Or is this only for one computer?

You can only officially use one product key on one machine (there are
exceptions such as volume licensing, but that is not applicable here).

A work around is to install XP on your desktop machine and then wait 4
months before installing on you laptop. The activation drops off
Microsoft's database after a period of time of around 120 days. They
naturally don't publish (or admit) this.

 

[Alias]

Best bet overall is to get a retail copy of XP for each PC you want to
install it on.

The most expensive, anyway. The least expensive is a generic OEM
version, followed by a retail upgrade.

Alias