[Justin Smith]

We bought a laptop about two years ago which had Winows Vista on it, which I think is crap, I`m far happier with XP.
Now we`ve got a PC which is never used which has XP on it, and we bought this as an upgrade to a PC with Windows 98 on it so we have the CD (it wasn`t original equipment).
The question is, when the warranty runs out on our Vista equipped laptop, can we transfer the XP onto it ? I realise we`ll lose everything on the laptop but I hate Vista so much I`m prepared to put up with that !
Somebody told me you couldn`t (legally) transfer it, some one else said you could, so a third person said you could install it on two PCs. Which is true ?

[sccsux]

Originally Posted by Justin Smith

Somebody told me you couldn`t (legally) transfer it, some one else said you could, so a third person said you could install it on two PCs. Which is true?

The second person is correct (though you will probably need to contact M$ to inform them of the change in HW).

[Bulgarian]

You might be better off trying Windows 7, it's much better than XP, but obviously you'd need to buy it.

[dosxuk]

Originally Posted by Justin Smith

Somebody told me you couldn`t (legally) transfer it

True, sometimes.

Originally Posted by Justin Smith

some one else said you could

True, sometimes.

Originally Posted by Justin Smith

so a third person said you could install it on two PCs

True, sometimes.

----------

The first statement is true if you bought an OEM version of Windows XP, which is often recommended as it's cheaper. However, it's only legally allowed to be put on one machine - when that machine dies, the licence dies with it.

The second statement is true if you bought any other version of Windows XP. You can transfer it between computers as many times as you like, although you will have to ring up Microsoft to activate after a certain number of times.

The final statement is true only if you are disposing of the machine it used to run on. You can't have it installed on more than one working machine at a time.

[Justin Smith]

Originally Posted by dosxuk

True, sometimes.



True, sometimes.



True, sometimes.

----------

The first statement is true if you bought an OEM version of Windows XP, which is often recommended as it's cheaper. However, it's only legally allowed to be put on one machine - when that machine dies, the licence dies with it.

The second statement is true if you bought any other version of Windows XP. You can transfer it between computers as many times as you like, although you will have to ring up Microsoft to activate after a certain number of times.

The final statement is true only if you are disposing of the machine it used to run on. You can't have it installed on more than one working machine at a time.

Thanks, all I need to know, hopefully ! Since I have the disc I`m assuming the second option is the correct one for me.

[me-and-pippo]

Originally Posted by Justin Smith

Thanks, all I need to know, hopefully ! Since I have the disc I`m assuming the second option is the correct one for me.

Before you go ahead with anything make sure you have all the XP drivers for your laptop,
and above all, if the laptop has a SATA hard drive you will also need the SATA drivers.

[Justin Smith]

Originally Posted by me-and-pippo

Before you go ahead with anything make sure you have all the XP drivers for your laptop,
and above all, if the laptop has a SATA hard drive you will also need the SATA drivers.

Gordon Bennet. What on earth is a SATA hard drive ! ? !
Won`t the XP CD have all the drivers on it ?
The laptop is an E Machines E625.

[swarfendor43]

Acronis Plus has been available for a limited time discount which allows transfer from one machine to a totally different one and picks up hardware differences - not tried it yet. You may still need to contact M$ about the changes. Also you stated it was an upgrade to 98 which might mean you have to install 98 on the laptop first but not sure on this. You could create an image from the PC using Acronis then use the plus element to transfer from PC to laptop - again not tried this yet but bought it anyway. The other thing to bear in mind is that XP will finish in a couple of years time not sure if 2013 or 2014 when XP support will come to an end - if you want the look you could always try Zorin which has a 'look changer' - default is a '7' look but you can change this to look like XP!

[me-and-pippo]

Originally Posted by Justin Smith

Won`t the XP CD have all the drivers on it ?

In one word 'NO'