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Can I use Dell Windows XP licenses on a non-Dell PC? RRS feed

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    I have 3 dell laptops with windows xp, I always ran archlinux on my desktop and server for the last 7 years or so and crux and debian before that.

    These were dell c610? Total garbage from Dell, I would have to replace their motherboards to fix them now, so I have 3 legit licenses.

    I also have a retail windows xp cd holographic that i bought to install with but can't find the case.

    I want to install windows xp on my custom home desktop and obviously none of this works even though I have paid for 4 windows xp licenses.

    I have the cdkeys that are on the bottom of the laptops.

    Saturday, July 17, 2010 5:12 AM

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    "navi03" wrote in message news:ed3e7ab3-b4cf-44e7-8f13-d43f044afbdb...

    Just a side note, I was able to install off my retail pro cd with a random cd key that I got offline, I won't post it here but figured out a few things and just did a windows update and had around 76 updates then restarted and all seems to be ok, and It says that is activated.

     

     But, I would like to use one of my paid cd keys instead of this.

    No - you cannot use ANY OEM Key on any computer other than the one on which it was originally installed.
     
    Your Retail License, you could use on any computer at all - so long as it was the only computer on which it was installed.
     
    Until you find and use your legitimate Key, you run the risk of finding your installation locked out by the WGA process.
     
    You have obviously either found a key online, or used one of the many KeyGen programs for your current key - and the chances are high that such usage will be discovered and blocked in the not-so-distant future.

    --

    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
    Saturday, July 17, 2010 8:48 PM
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    "navi03" wrote in message news:5873b4b3-08f8-4929-a360-032eb8d6399e...

    Impatiently waited an hour, microsoft billions pays for you guys to answer questions right?

    Good to see paid customer service at work. Installed off the first key I found on google and tweaked the registry.

    good to go now?


    There is only one MS employee who works these groups - and he does 9-5 Seattle/Redmond hours The rest of us are volunteers and users like yourself - this is NOT a chat-room, but a forum, which acts likes a message-board. You leave a message on the board and, someone will reply to it sooner or later - frequently sooner, depending on the time you post, and the time-zone you are in.
    Having said that....
     
    I'm a little unclear as to what you want to do, and the status of your licenses
    My understanding is this.
    1) You have 3 Dell laptops - with XP (Pro?) COA stickers, and installed XP (Pro?)
    2) you have an XP disk - but you don't say whether it is Home or Pro, and you can't find the associated Key for it.
    3) You may have replaced the motherboards on the machines.
     
    Your Retail disk will not work with the OEM Keys currently on the laptops - you will need an OEM System Builder disk, or the Recovery disks from Dell for that.
    If you have replaced the motherboards on the machines, then the existing OEM licenses are no longer valid under the terms of the licenses, and you will have to acquire new, valid licenses (I believe legitimate OEM packs are still available at some sources - but not direct from MS)

    --

    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
    Saturday, July 17, 2010 7:08 AM
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    Thanks for your reply, I thought the microsoft forums would have decent paid support, my mistake..

    They should be paying volunteers like yourself.

    My problem is that i don't care about fixing the laptops anymore, but since I have a few windows xp licenses that I am not using anymore, I want to use one on my desktop.

    Even though they are COA keys for dell, I have legit licenses right. I should be able to use them as i wish on whatever hardware that i want.

    Regardless, I have windows xp licenses and I want to use one on a non dell computer.

     

    /edit all laptops have pro and retail disk is pro.

    Saturday, July 17, 2010 7:56 AM
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    Just a side note, I was able to install off my retail pro cd with a random cd key that I got offline, I won't post it here but figured out a few things and just did a windows update and had around 76 updates then restarted and all seems to be ok, and It says that is activated.

     

     But, I would like to use one of my paid cd keys instead of this.

    Saturday, July 17, 2010 8:20 AM
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    Thanks for your reply, I thought the microsoft forums would have decent paid support, my mistake..

    They should be paying volunteers like yourself.

    My problem is that i don't care about fixing the laptops anymore, but since I have a few windows xp licenses that I am not using anymore, I want to use one on my desktop.

    Even though they are COA keys for dell, I have legit licenses right. I should be able to use them as i wish on whatever hardware that i want.

    Regardless, I have windows xp licenses and I want to use one on a non dell computer.

     

    /edit all laptops have pro and retail disk is pro.

    Sorry, but you cannot use an OEM Dell Windows license on a non-Dell computer.  The license is valid only for installtion on the Dell computer it originally came with.
    Carey Frisch
    Saturday, July 17, 2010 3:04 PM
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    "navi03" wrote in message news:ed3e7ab3-b4cf-44e7-8f13-d43f044afbdb...

    Just a side note, I was able to install off my retail pro cd with a random cd key that I got offline, I won't post it here but figured out a few things and just did a windows update and had around 76 updates then restarted and all seems to be ok, and It says that is activated.

     

     But, I would like to use one of my paid cd keys instead of this.

    No - you cannot use ANY OEM Key on any computer other than the one on which it was originally installed.
     
    Your Retail License, you could use on any computer at all - so long as it was the only computer on which it was installed.
     
    Until you find and use your legitimate Key, you run the risk of finding your installation locked out by the WGA process.
     
    You have obviously either found a key online, or used one of the many KeyGen programs for your current key - and the chances are high that such usage will be discovered and blocked in the not-so-distant future.

    --

    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
    Saturday, July 17, 2010 8:48 PM
    Moderator