Gutting a Dell, can I reuse the XP disc?

[AuroraProject]

This is a stupid question I guess. I'm fairly certain I already know the answer, but I need to ask anyway.

I have a Dell 8250 and I'll be stripping it soon and moving the components over to an Asus P4P800-E mobo. My question is can I use the XP install disc and serial number that came with the Dell, or do I need to buy a new copy?

I'm guessing I can reuse the disc/serial number.

Thanks.

[PurpleSaurusRex]

You can reuse it, but I dunno if you would want to... does DELL add crapware to their XP discs like GATEWAY does?

[AuroraProject]

You can reuse it, but I dunno if you would want to... does DELL add crapware to their XP discs like GATEWAY does?


Yes, but I've been able to remove it. If I had another install disc from a different computer can I use that with the Dell serial number?

[JBark]

Yes, but I've been able to remove it. If I had another install disc from a different computer can I use that with the Dell serial number?

As of March 1st, you can't activate a copy of windows installed with an OEM CD key. The Dell recovery disk contains an already activated copy of Windows, so you'd have to install from that. And I'm guessing the recovery disk is locked to a dell bios, so you might be out of luck.

[Zwitterion]

More times than not, the dell XP disks will only work on a Dell machine. The product key that comes with your dell is only supposed to be used with a dell OEM machine also.

[AuroraProject]

Hmm, guess I'll be buying another copy of XP. I don't understand the recent OEM activation thing, how will this affect me if I buy an OEM copy of XP from newegg or zzf?

[dbwillis]

The activation change from 2/28/05 only effects certain OEM licenses.

I did a test install on 3/1 and another reinstall/reactivation 3/5 and had no problems with activation over the internet.

[screwallyall]

i built my own computer and reinstalled windows fine with a dell xp disk

[AuroraProject]

What about the other way, using a regular XP disc and the key off the Dell case I have now? Would that work? (As you can tell I'd rather not buy yet another copy of Windows)

[S1nF1xx]

CAN you use it on another machine. Yes.

Is it legal to use it on another machine. No.


When you buy a computer from Dell, HP etc, the copy of Windows is explicitly tied to that machine and that machine alone.

[dargon]

As S1nF1xx said, it's not exactly legal for you to use it on a different motherboard. OEM copies of XP are techniclaly linked to the first computer they are installed upon. Microsoft defines a computer by it's motherboard, put in a new motherboard you have a new computer. Microsoft has been good about reactivating OEM copies due to hardware upgrades which involve the motherboard, but they are fully within their rights (as defined by their EULA) to say take a leap

[BobSutan]

CAN you use it on another machine. Yes.

Is it legal to use it on another machine. No..

Not exactly. The legality of it depends on whether or not your State regards software licenses as legally binding contracts. Some States have ruled they are, some have ruled they are not, and the majority have yet to decide one way or another. The Supreme Court has ruled that copyright holders [of IP] cannot extend control of their IP beyond the sale (First Sale Doctrine). So as long as you've paid for it you can do with it as you wish (so long as your State says its okay).

See this thead (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=882703) for more info.

[AuroraProject]

See this thead (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=882703) for more info.

I can't see that thread, says I don't have permission or something. :(

[ashmedai]

You can, but it might give you a bunch of shit over it. Should you? That's up to you to decide.

My philosophy - bugger the EULA, they have your money, you have a copy of the software in return. If they want to take your copy, they should give the money back first. Then again I've never used an OEM copy so it's all just talk.

I've never seen any solid legal precedent confirming it either way. If it's legal for MS to specify terms like that, then the EULA may be binding including the ridiculously one-sided portions. If it's not legal it's not legal or enforceable, it doesn't matter if you signed it in blood and left DNA samples. If MS decides to ask a judge to enforce a non-transferable clause, we'll find out several years and appeals later what the facts of the matter is, until then there IS no clean answer.

At some point if MS figure out how to get their authentication act together, you might find it hard to do Windows Update if you don't follow their rules. It hasn't happened yet, and even if they do it's likely to only affect automatic updates.

[aggpirate]

I used my brothers dell sowtware because mine would not install. It worked, but you have all the sell apps that you have to find and kill