Is it legal to install Windows XP on another HDD for the same computer? [two birds] [windows files]
Q: Ok, so the machine in question has an old 5400rpm drive with WindowsXP on. Im considering replacing it with a long over due upgrade to a Raptor 10,000 rpm. My motherboard has the input so thats no problem. Rather, the problem is that I can not all Windows files to another hard drive by simply copying them over. I was also a lot of problems with my current setup and figure a clean install of Windows might as well be killing two birds with one stone. But I remember a code in Microsoft Windows when I originally installed as a safety measure. My copy is legit, but Im not sure I can install it again on the same computer with another HDD. Is it legal? Or would I have to buy a copy of Windows? (Mank) I hope not sure. See how broadband is not available in my area, a good colleague Mr.Bittorent not be able to drop a free copy on my door.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Forget reinstall! Just clone the old drive to a new drive and then replace the old with the new. If that is the only change, Windows will accept it cheerfully – find new hardware and ask for a reboot. That's all there is to it. I do it all the time.
As long as only that one drive is active in that machine – it's a non-issue.
Also, I've been having a lot of problems with my current setup and figure a clean install of Windows would be just as well
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Forget reinstall! Just clone the old drive to a new drive and then replace the old with the new. If that is the only change, Windows will accept it cheerfully – find new hardware and ask for a reboot. That's all there is to it. I do it all the time.
As long as only that one drive is active in that machine – it's a non-issue.
acronis is all you need… :thumbsup:
Re:Forget reinstall! Just clone the old drive to a new drive and then replace the old with the new. If that is the only change, Windows will accept it cheerfully – find new hardware and ask for a reboot. That's all there is to it. I do it all the time.
As long as only that one drive is active in that machine – it's a non-issue.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
So seeing as wall it will be a fresh install on a new hdd, but it will use the original MOBO it's ok?
Yep
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Originally posted by: guy
If you have the OEM version, you can't install it again
If you have the retail version, you can install it on another HDD
Wrong.
You can reinstall just fine (its perfectly legal). An oem version is tied to your motherboard, not your harddrive.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Originally posted by: guy
My oem version is tied to my molex power splitter, because that is what newegg sent with it as the hardware requirement:P
Wrong…
OEM is not tied to the HARDWARE PURCHASED with it, but rather to the PC it's installed on.
It was a joke. Christ. Newegg just requires XP to be purchased with hardware.
Re:So seeing as wall it will be a fresh install on a new hdd, but it will use the original MOBO it's ok?
Re:OEM XP is, according to Microsoft's EULA, tied to the motherboard that it's originally installed with. You can't move it to a different motherboard unless the original motherboard has failed.
You can certainly replace any other component in your system. You may have to re-activate. But even if online activation is denied for some reason, you can always activate by phone.
If you have Retail XP, you can MOVE the OS wherever you want. Again, if online activation is denied for some reason, you can always call.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
My oem version is tied to my molex power splitter, because that is what newegg sent with it as the hardware requirement:P
Wrong…
OEM is not tied to the HARDWARE PURCHASED with it, but rather to the PC it's installed on.
Re:My oem version is tied to my molex power splitter, because that is what newegg sent with it as the hardware requirement:P
Re:Originally posted by: goku
Originally posted by: guy
Originally posted by: guy
If you have the OEM version, you can't install it again
If you have the retail version, you can install it on another HDD
Wrong.
You can reinstall just fine (its perfectly legal). An oem version is tied to your motherboard, not your harddrive.
Well, at least I don't need to correct your post for once 
Re:supposedly windows can tell when you've changed your configuration a considerable amount when you go to re-activate? And I assume if it's considerably different than what you originally activated with, it will give you an error and you'll have to register by phone.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Originally posted by: guy
If you have the OEM version, you can't install it again
If you have the retail version, you can install it on another HDD
Wrong.
You can reinstall just fine (its perfectly legal). An oem version is tied to your motherboard, not your harddrive.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
If you have the OEM version, you can't install it again
If you have the retail version, you can install it on another HDD
Wrong.
You can reinstall just fine (its perfectly legal). An oem version is tied to your motherboard, not your harddrive.
Re:You may end up having to activate by phone if it thinks you're installing it on a second computer… However, it's perfectly legal to re-install it on the same computer after a hardware upgrade. It's not legal with an OEM copy because it's licensed to be used on a specific hardware configuration as purchased from a manufacturer and once you go changing the hardware configuration it's no longer the "same computer" apparently.
Re:If you have the OEM version, you can't install it again
If you have the retail version, you can install it on another HDD
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Tags: two birds, windows files