XP licence question - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

arch13 · 04-11-2005, 10:53 PM

With older microsoft products, the EULA was specified as one licence that could exist on one work computer, and one home computer, as long as you did not work at home and could not be able to use both concurrently.

Has this changed with XP?
I just purchased a new laptop for work that has XP Pro, and a valid licence. I have the media that came with the computer, and am pondering installing XP to replace 2000 on my home computer. I'm lazy enough to leave my laptop in my (locked) studio, so I do feel I meet the needs granted in the old EULA.

I can't find a copy of the new EULA though. Google has lots of results for XP home which requires activation, and is designed to have the serial attatched to the hardware since XP home has no office use. But what about those of us with Pro that do use it at the office?

Can we still do this, or has the business product licence changed?

darkjedi · 04-12-2005, 12:00 AM

You can still do this with Microsoft Office 2003 (Latest version) but you are not legally allowed/supposed to do this with Windows XP.

Also, depending on the laptop maker, the Windows XP disk that came with it is most likely made specifically for that laptop. It may have a custom drivers section on the CD made to install the laptop hardware. It will also be what is called an "OEM" install and will most likely not allow you to upgrade your current PC. If you were to try to do it, it might make you install a "clean" version of XP which would then make you lose all your program settings. (Not data or documents, just the program install info. So you would need to reinstall all of the apps.)

But to answer the original question. Windows XP that comes preloaded on a PC or laptop is licensed ONLY for that specific PC or laptop.

Good luck.

WillyPete · 04-12-2005, 01:00 AM

True. And it would be silly to trawl for an XP license number as a lot of those OEM builds have a bunch of license numbers assigned to them and won't work with other types of builds.

EG: the MSDN XP installation CD will not take a license that is on the sticker on the bottom of a new pc.
The volume license edition won't either, and you can't use one of the MSDN or regular volume licenses on an install with a CD that comes with a pre-installed pc either.

You will have to activate it if it's a pre-install edition and that will kill the activation on the other machine that has it. You'll have to call up to change it.

hrdwareguy · 04-12-2005, 05:04 AM

You should be able to find a copy of the EULA in the Windows\System32 folder. Should be a file called eula.txt.

arch13 · 04-14-2005, 05:55 AM

First, I am refering to Pro as I mentioned above, so their is no activation.
The CD that came with my new NX7010 HP laptop is an OEM disc that will still do a classic install in booted from.
hrdwareguy, thank you for the tip. Now to sit with a cup of coffee and read it.

Now, assuming that everyone here's responses can also be applied to the Pro OEM version (as oppsed to the Home version people seem to think I'm talking about), does it also apply to retail purchased version.

In other words, do OEM versions have a different EULA than retail versions? Can they still go on One office and One home machine?

hrdwareguy · 04-14-2005, 09:44 AM

From Microsoft

Quote:

Can I make a second copy of my Windows operating system software for my portable computer?

The End-User License Agreement (EULA) for many Microsoft application software products contains the following sentence: "The primary user of the computer on which the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is installed may make a second copy for his or her exclusive use on a portable computer." If your EULA contains this sentence, then, subject to the conditions mentioned, you may make a second copy of the software. Note that you must be the primary user of the computer on which the software is installed. The primary user is the individual who uses the computer most of the time it is in use. Only that individual is entitled to use the second copy. Furthermore, the software must be installed on the local hard disk of your computer; you are not entitled to make and use a second copy on your portable computer if you run the primary copy of the software from a network server. Finally, only one secondary copy may be made; you may install this copy on more than one portable computer.

Please note that many Microsoft products are copy protected and it will not be technically possible to make a second copy of the disk. If you are a Licensee of software that includes copy protection technology, please call the Product Support Services number provided for that specific product to learn whether or not unencrypted disks can be obtained.

Even if the license allows you to install on a second machine, it is important to note that the second machine must be a portable device. You can not install on 2 different desktop machines.

Also from the Windows XP Pro EULA

Quote:

You may install, use, access, display and run one copy of the Product on a single computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other device ("Workstation Computer"). The Product may not be used by more than two (2) processors at any one time on any single Workstation Computer.

There is no mention of the Second Copy in the Windows XP EULA.

Also, to clarify, Retail and OEM versions of WinXP pro do have to be activated. Corporate versions, and some preinstalled versions from manufacturers do not have to be activated. However the preinstalled versions are tied to the machine by the bios so even if you did try and install on another machine, it probably would not work.

trib767 · 04-14-2005, 03:24 PM

For home use I don't see the problem. Just install it. If you're using it for commercial purposes then that is another matter. If no home user had unlicenseed copies of Windows then Microsoft would not be the giant it is today. It's the ubiquity of Windows and the adoption by the corporate world that get's them their bucks. I think the humble home user should even be encouraged to use it for free as home users learn skills that the corporate world can take advantage of and which, in turn, lines the Microsoft pockets.

F-18_Driver · 04-14-2005, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arch13

I can't find a copy of the new EULA though. Google has lots of results for XP home which requires activation, and is designed to have the serial attatched to the hardware since XP home has no office use.

Not to pick too many nits, but I have a five-computer network at work, and they're XP Home. Including the server.

Amnesia620 · 04-14-2005, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F-18_Driver

Not to pick too many nits, but I have a five-computer network at work, and they're XP Home. Including the server.

If I may interject here for a correction, she is talking about XP PRO Not XP HOME.

hrdwareguy · 04-15-2005, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F-18_Driver

Not to pick too many nits, but I have a five-computer network at work, and they're XP Home. Including the server.

No one said they couldn't be networked. In fact they can be part of a network workgroup. However they can not be part of a network domain. Thus the power of pro to be connected to a domain with additional authentication and the ability for group policy.

hrdwareguy · 04-15-2005, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trib767

For home use I don't see the problem. Just install it. If you're using it for commercial purposes then that is another matter. If no home user had unlicenseed copies of Windows then Microsoft would not be the giant it is today. It's the ubiquity of Windows and the adoption by the corporate world that get's them their bucks. I think the humble home user should even be encouraged to use it for free as home users learn skills that the corporate world can take advantage of and which, in turn, lines the Microsoft pockets.

The problem is the license agreement says you can use it on ONE computer system. It doesn't matter if it's for commercial use or not. One cmoputer system means exactly that.

04-11-2005, 10:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
arch13 Loves my girl in thongs Location: North of Mexico, South of Canada	XP licence question With older microsoft products, the EULA was specified as one licence that could exist on one work computer, and one home computer, as long as you did not work at home and could not be able to use both concurrently. Has this changed with XP? I just purchased a new laptop for work that has XP Pro, and a valid licence. I have the media that came with the computer, and am pondering installing XP to replace 2000 on my home computer. I'm lazy enough to leave my laptop in my (locked) studio, so I do feel I meet the needs granted in the old EULA. I can't find a copy of the new EULA though. Google has lots of results for XP home which requires activation, and is designed to have the serial attatched to the hardware since XP home has no office use. But what about those of us with Pro that do use it at the office? Can we still do this, or has the business product licence changed? __________________ Seen on an employer evaluation: "The wheel is turning but the hamsters dead" ____________________________ Is arch13 really a porn diety ? find out after the film at 11. -Nanofever

04-12-2005, 05:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
hrdwareguy "Officer, I was in fear for my life" Location: Oklahoma City	You should be able to find a copy of the EULA in the Windows\System32 folder. Should be a file called eula.txt. __________________ Gun Control is hitting what you aim at Aim for the TFP, Donate Today

04-14-2005, 05:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
arch13 Loves my girl in thongs Location: North of Mexico, South of Canada	First, I am refering to Pro as I mentioned above, so their is no activation. The CD that came with my new NX7010 HP laptop is an OEM disc that will still do a classic install in booted from. hrdwareguy, thank you for the tip. Now to sit with a cup of coffee and read it. Now, assuming that everyone here's responses can also be applied to the Pro OEM version (as oppsed to the Home version people seem to think I'm talking about), does it also apply to retail purchased version. In other words, do OEM versions have a different EULA than retail versions? Can they still go on One office and One home machine? __________________ Seen on an employer evaluation: "The wheel is turning but the hamsters dead" ____________________________ Is arch13 really a porn diety ? find out after the film at 11. -Nanofever

04-12-2005, 12:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
darkjedi Psycho Location: A Galaxy Far Far Away...	You can still do this with Microsoft Office 2003 (Latest version) but you are not legally allowed/supposed to do this with Windows XP. Also, depending on the laptop maker, the Windows XP disk that came with it is most likely made specifically for that laptop. It may have a custom drivers section on the CD made to install the laptop hardware. It will also be what is called an "OEM" install and will most likely not allow you to upgrade your current PC. If you were to try to do it, it might make you install a "clean" version of XP which would then make you lose all your program settings. (Not data or documents, just the program install info. So you would need to reinstall all of the apps.) But to answer the original question. Windows XP that comes preloaded on a PC or laptop is licensed ONLY for that specific PC or laptop. Good luck.

04-12-2005, 01:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
WillyPete Addict	True. And it would be silly to trawl for an XP license number as a lot of those OEM builds have a bunch of license numbers assigned to them and won't work with other types of builds. EG: the MSDN XP installation CD will not take a license that is on the sticker on the bottom of a new pc. The volume license edition won't either, and you can't use one of the MSDN or regular volume licenses on an install with a CD that comes with a pre-installed pc either. You will have to activate it if it's a pre-install edition and that will kill the activation on the other machine that has it. You'll have to call up to change it.

04-14-2005, 03:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
trib767 Crazy Location: London, UK	For home use I don't see the problem. Just install it. If you're using it for commercial purposes then that is another matter. If no home user had unlicenseed copies of Windows then Microsoft would not be the giant it is today. It's the ubiquity of Windows and the adoption by the corporate world that get's them their bucks. I think the humble home user should even be encouraged to use it for free as home users learn skills that the corporate world can take advantage of and which, in turn, lines the Microsoft pockets.