XP installation legality question

[alkaline]

I have a disc for genuine win xp pro. It is currently installed on this computer. i will be purchasing a laptop soon, and xp pro isnt free [win media center is, pro is +$150]. can i, legally, format my laptop and install xp pro from the same disc that i have installed xp pro onto another computer with? will i receive support [updates] from microsoft?

[Catweazle]

Does the laptop come with XP installed or with no OS installed?

Your XP Pro CD can only be used on one PC at a time. That's a license restriction. You'll have problems activating the installation if you try to have it on more than one PC.

If the laptop has an XP Pro license attached to it, though, you can use your CD to reinstall with and then change the CD key code to the one which belongs to the laptop when you activate the installation.

[Jerome36]

Does the laptop come with XP installed or with no OS installed?

It sounds to me like Windows XP: Media Center Edition is what comes on the laptop, but "upgrading" to Win XP Pro is a 150 dollar addition, when customizing the machine before purchase. If that's the case, unless you absolutely NEED XP Pro, why not just use Media Center Edition? I know there's a few key differences between Home and Pro, but I'm not sure about MCE.

[SJConsultant]

I don't think the OP realizes XP MCE *IS* XP Pro with a couple limitations like MCE cannot join a domain.

It would be helpful for the OP to explain his reasoning for wanting plain vanilla XP Pro over MCE.

[swatbat]

I don't think the OP realizes XP MCE *IS* XP Pro with a couple limitations like MCE cannot join a domain.

It would be helpful for the OP to explain his reasoning for wanting plain vanilla XP Pro over MCE.

If I remember right you loose Group Policies and the ability to join said domain and thats it. Hell if you modify the registry to make it look like you upgraded to media center 2k5 from the older one you still can join a domain if I remember right.

To the OP,
Do you need to be able to join a domain? If not just get media center and make sure you get them to send you restore disks. If you need to join a domain just buy an oem copy of xp pro.

[Catweazle]

It sounds to me like Windows XP: Media Center Edition is what comes on the laptop...

My bad. I misread the post. Unless the networking restrictions are prohibitive then MCE should be fine.

If the decision to change to XP Pro is taken, though, it'll need to be a format/fresh install. MCE doesn't 'upgrade' to XP Pro very reliably.

[swatbat]

MCE doesn't 'upgrade' to XP Pro very reliably.

Will it upgrade at all? Last time I tried was to take 2 media center machines to pro because we are moving a company to a domain. The volume license pro disk refused to do it. I was thinking about using like tweak nt to convert it to home or pro then trying an inplace upgrade but just formated them to get rid of the oem junk that came on the machines and one of them had some issues anyway.

[Catweazle]

If the volume licensing install won't upgrade then I'd suspect that the answer is "No". MCE doesn't constitute eligibility for an upgrade install to the retail versions of XP Home or XP Pro, according to Microsoft. It could be done by hacking the install CD to change its license type, as you mention though I'd imagine.

Upgrade installs are best avoided anyway. Too many potential problems when you perform one, for my liking.