Extension of XP

[ca n vt]

Am I the only one that finds it amusing that Microsoft was going to kill XP in June so that people wouldn't have any choice as far as switching to Vista is concerned and a lot of retailers balked at the idea because of how many customers are downgrading. I think I'll snatch up a version of XP now before the the kill it too.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/91219

[Miller]

No kidding. The only real question is how long until the next OS comes out, will it be better than XP, and how many computers do I think I will be building between now and then...

[ca n vt]

Yeah right. By the way since I've never built more then the one system I'm currently using I was wondering about this. Can you only use the OS you bought on one system (legally I mean) or if you buy the OEM version is it OK to install it on multiple systems? I was always under the impression that you were only permitted to install one set of OS discs per system but somebody I was speaking to at work the other day told me he doesn't do that. If you register for instance to update your service pack wouldn't that catch that?

[Miller]

I'm not sure what happens when you use an OEM disk. I know with my new computer I built I used my same XP disk as my old system and it went fine. The old system is going to have Windows HomeServer on it so I figured it wouldn't be a big deal, but it was a full-install disk. (I actually haven't converted the old system over yet since I wanted to make sure I got everything off of it that I needed first. So I actually have had both systems running and connected to the internet for a little while as I migrate everythig over.)

[ca n vt]

Hmm, yeah I have an OEM version of XP MCE and I occasionally price out the cost of a new system (just for fun) and always account for the cost of an OS but maybe I don't need to. Maybe I can just use the same one I already have the discs for on a new system.

[Miller]

I'm sure there's an official answer, but you could always try and see what happens I suppose. I would guess the licensing agreement would lay out exactly what's allowed and what isn't.

[ca n vt]

I would guess the licensing agreement would lay out exactly what's allowed and what isn't.

Yeah but who knows where that is by now. I can probably just look at Microsofts site I'm sure they have the answer someplace.

[Miller]

When you install the OS it should bring up the licensing agreement for you to read through.

[turajb]

This would depend upon the version of windows.  up until Vista you were permitted to move your Windows OS to a new system & then activate it on the new hardware, which would deactivate it on the old hardware (at least for the WGA stuff).  With Vista, there are additional restrictions about moving to to new hardware & how often that can happen.  It was all done as part of WGA & to address sharing/piracy situations.  As each new version of windows is released, you will finds these restrictions will continue to be extended & imposed more strictly.

[HarryPutnam]

This would depend upon the version of windows.  up until Vista you were permitted to move your Windows OS to a new system & then activate it on the new hardware, which would deactivate it on the old hardware (at least for the WGA stuff).  With Vista, there are additional restrictions about moving to to new hardware & how often that can happen.  It was all done as part of WGA & to address sharing/piracy situations.  As each new version of windows is released, you will finds these restrictions will continue to be extended & imposed more strictly.

Sorry to butt in here but I can't come up with anything to flesh out the initials WGA.... what does that mean?

[turajb]

WGA = Windows Genuine Advantage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage