I have cloned the two hard drives from #1 and put them into #2. It works
but there are some hardware differences between #1 and #2 so #2 wants to
be authenticated, etc but I don't want to do that. I want to be able to
use both computers.
If I buy Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3 OEM can I use that disk
to basically install that version onto hard drive #2 without losing
everything on HD #2?
According to the following web page, what I want to do is possible:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
Is the information on the above web page correct?
--
JD..
The differences you speak of are likely the NIC MAC address and other serial
numbers - most likely.
You need multiple licenses for Windows XP to run it on two different
computers. I believe when you say, "wants to be authenticated" you mean
"activated" and without activation - your system will be worthless shortly.
While the repair installation instructions will take into account the HAL
differences and make the system boot - I assume given your description that
is not your issue. Your issue is you are trying to utilize the same license
(product key) on two different systems - and you cannot do that in
accordance with the EULA.
Now if you have two licenses and you are just trying to save yourself time
in installing one of the machines... Just use the Microsoft product key
change tool to change the product key to the other legitimate key you have
and activate it there.
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Link...46&clcid=0x409
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
Shenan Stanley wrote:
> The differences you speak of are likely the NIC MAC address and
> other serial numbers - most likely.
>
> You need multiple licenses for Windows XP to run it on two different
> computers. I believe when you say, "wants to be authenticated" you
> mean "activated" and without activation - your system will be
> worthless shortly.
> While the repair installation instructions will take into account
> the HAL differences and make the system boot - I assume given your
> description that is not your issue. Your issue is you are trying
> to utilize the same license (product key) on two different systems
> - and you cannot do that in accordance with the EULA.
>
> Now if you have two licenses and you are just trying to save
> yourself time in installing one of the machines... Just use the
> Microsoft product key change tool to change the product key to the
> other legitimate key you have and activate it there.
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Link...46&clcid=0x409
Oops - link got fubar'd.
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409
Short version of my response...
Get your new license for Windows XP Home, run the product key update tool I
linked you to on the other machine to change the product key to the new
legitimate one and activate it online.
Now you have two identical machines whose licenses are good and working.
I currently have two XP Upgrade disks, each installed on two separate
computers that are not duplicates of each other. I own two separate
licenses. Those disks are both Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade
with SP2.
I plan to purchase the Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3 OEM and
install it on the duplicate computer. This will be my third license.
Will the product key update tool let me use that third license since the
two versions are a little different? Actually, I see I can just buy
another copy of my original disks and then the product key update tool
should work?
--
JD..
Maybe I'm thick but, you have 2 computers and 2 licences, why do you
need any more? Just upgrade both with/to SP3
--
--
Geoff
ExploitEd
Wisdom and experience come with age, they say, but I do wish I could
remember the darn question
There is no need to buy XP sp3 since can download
SP3 for free from the XP Download site.
Burn the file to a CD using the .iso format and then use
that CD to install SP3 onto each machine
got it??
peter
--
If you find a posting or message from me offensive,inappropriate
or disruptive,please ignore it.
If you dont know how to ignore a posting complain
to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate :-)
"JD" <J...@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:Obg1FfCf...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
Three computers. Two licenses. Need another license. Don't worry about it.
--
JD..
I already had it. Three computers. Two upgrade disks. Need a third one.
--
JD..
I only read computers #1 & #2, where's the third?
LOOK LOOK LOOK
>>>> I currently have two XP Upgrade disks, each installed on two
>>>> separate computers that are not duplicates of each other. I own two
>>>> separate licenses. Those disks are both Microsoft Windows XP Home
>>>> Edition Upgrade with SP2.
>>>>
>>>> I plan to purchase the Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3 OEM and
>>>> install it on the duplicate computer. This will be my third license.
LOOK LOOK LOOK
>>>>
>>>> Will the product key update tool let me use that third license since
>>>> the two versions are a little different? Actually, I see I can just
>>>> buy another copy of my original disks and then the product key
>>>> update tool should work?
>>>
>>> Maybe I'm thick but, you have 2 computers and 2 licences, why do you
>>> need any more? Just upgrade both with/to SP3
>>>
>>
>> Three computers. Two licenses. Need another license. Don't worry
>> about it.
>
> I only read computers #1& #2, where's the third?
>
>
Scroll up this reply and you can see my reply to Shenan Stanley.
I'll add LOOK for you.
No big deal, you're not thick and I did say three computers, perhaps in
a confusing manner.
Have you ever used the product key update tool Shenan Stanley talks about?
--
JD..
JD wrote:
> Scroll up this reply and you can see my reply to Shenan Stanley.
>
> No big deal, you're not thick and I did say three computers,
> perhaps in a confusing manner.
>
> Have you ever used the product key update tool Shenan Stanley talks
> about?
I believe the point is that you started this whole conversation with:
"For ease of discussion, the original computer is #1 and the second computer
is #2."
There was no #3 originally. ;-)
I have used it many times, suggested it many more.
You do need to use the proper key with the proper type of license. In other
words...
Windows XP Home OEM product key with Windows XP Home OEM.
Windows XP Professional Retail product key with Windows XP Professional
Retail.
Windows XP Professional Volume License product key with Windows XP
Professional Volume License.
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 OEM product key with Windows XP Media
Center Edition 2005 OEM.
Etc...
In other words, the type (OEM, Retail, VL, etc) and the edition (Home,
Professional, Media Center, Tablet PC, etc) must match the key type you are
trying to utilize.
Of course - that again assumes your end-goal is to have three legitimate
licenses/product keys and not have to re-install everything because you
cloned (in whatever manner) one computer to another. Looking at your later
question:
"I currently have two XP Upgrade disks"
(Home? Professional?)
"I plan to purchase the Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3 OEM and
install it on the duplicate computer. This will be my third license."
You cannot use the tool since the type differs. What you can do is a repair
installation on the new computer with the cloned drives and use the product
key that comes with the OEM product to activate it. Using the link you
originally gave or the official Microsoft one.
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341
Nothing should be lost - I would say 'make a backup' - but since these are
clones of others - that part is pretty much a done deal, eh? ;-)
Sorry, I was confused by your OP, seems to me, you changed your question
mid thread, hardly surprising you get answers that don't make sense.
I am not familiar with the tool of which Shenan talks. Clearly in answer
to the question psed in this thread it is totally unnecessary. one
doesn't require an extra licence just for the hell of it.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/ht/changexpkey.htm
"JD" <J...@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:O1USnsEf...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
Excellent, I'm good to go then.
To clarify, I own three computers. Two are duplicate computers, more or
less since parts changed so fast like the mobo but they are similar. The
other is not anything like the two duplicates but that doesn't matter.
My current XP disks are Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade with
SP2 so I bought a third copy of that. The tool should work!
I used Acronis to clone the drive and it worked but I don't have the new
disk yet. Once I get the disk I'll clone the drive again and go from there.
Thanks for your help. I'll post back after I'm done but it may be a while.
--
JD..
--
JD..
"JD" <J...@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:#BIcdmPf...@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
"Jaibaba Bholanath" <jaibaba....@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f532d85e-8969-4789...@e4g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
I finally got around to cloning the two hard drives in this computer and
installing them into the similar computer that I built a few months ago.
I edited the registry to force a new registration and was able to change
the product code to my third copy of Windows XP Upgrade and everything
is working.
Acronis True Image Home 2009 doesn't work on the new machine so I
removed as much of it as I could and will deal with that later. This is
a backup computer so I'm not too concerned about backing it up.
I haven't had time to test everything on the new computer but so far
everything I've done has been successful.
Thanks to everyone for steering me to the Product Code change idea.
--
JD..