Windows Home reg. code question

I

idyllhands

New Member
Hello, just wondering if someone could verify my logic here. I have a laptop that quit working that had Win XP Home on it. Therefore, the copy of windows on it is no longer in use. Is it legal for me to use the code on a fresh install on another machine? It is an old Toshiba laptop if that matters. I have an old copy of XP Home that I lost the code to...so I already have the software to install it, just need a good code.
I would be interested to read any articles anyone knows of about this issue as well, just to know the ins and outs of software licensing.
 
If you bought your copy of Windows in a retail box with CD, then you may be able to use it on another PC, just phone MS and explain what happened to get another key.
If your copy of Windows came with the laptop, then it is tied to that hardware, and cannot be transferred to another machine.
The versions of Windows that come with PCs have a cut-down license that does not allow transfer to another PC.
 
The serial number is on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop, so this indicates that it is OEM and will not work on other PCs?
 
Cool thanks for the help. One more question: I ended up buying the laptop from her, but if I want to wipe it clean and reinstall windows, can I use any old copy of XP Home, as long as I use the code printed on the laptop? or do OEM copies generally require a special disc?
 
because if you activate the same key more than about 3/4 times on different hardwares, activation will fail, and you will have to phone up MS and chat to someone in order to get an activaton code, and they will quiz you. If they find out, in theory they could take you to court.

All xp disks are generally the same. Any OEM disk will work with any OEM key, and any retail disk will work with any retail key (so long as they are obviously the same edition e.g home / pro)

Bear in mind that there was a peoblem whereby the stikers on OEM dells and stuff were different keys (totally unused keys) to the one used on recovery partitions/cds (the companis volume licencing key, that requires no activation if used on thier h/w)

So people used to steal the keys off these machines stickers and use them on any machine, as they were unused OEM keys. However, that was bad. So MS went and disallowed internet activation on virtully all OEM sticker keys from the biggest manufacturers that did that.

So if you try and activate using that key, just ring up and explain that its an unused key about to be installed installed on 1 pc, the one the sticker is attatched to and that this is a reinstall as your recovery partition is dead or something. They will give you a code.
 
As jd stated, you can try to use the key on a different PC, but it may or may not work. If the key fails to activate (which can happen since you're attempting to transfer a license from a branded machine), you'll have to buy a new copy.
 
Ah ok, so OEM and Retail are actually different software just like home/pro. I wasn't aware of that. Thanks guys! Hopefully my disc is an OEM copy then...
 
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