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How many licenses does a copy of XP Pro come with? 1
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Be carefull as there are XP Pro at retail, XP Pro OEM at retail, and XP Pro for students and Education licenses at retail, and actually other versions at retail as well.
There is no one good answer to your question other than to read the EULA (your licensing agreement), and/or call Microsoft as give them the Product ID (PID) and have them tell you exactly what you can do.
In general, XP no matter whether pre-installed or purchased at retail, is to be installed on one hardware platform. Period.
If your question is: "Can I install my retail version of XP on another machine, like my laptop?" the answer is no. That much is unambiguous. See if this FAQ note helps to clarify things for you: faq779-4004
There is no one good answer to your question other than to read the EULA (your licensing agreement), and/or call Microsoft as give them the Product ID (PID) and have them tell you exactly what you can do.
In general, XP no matter whether pre-installed or purchased at retail, is to be installed on one hardware platform. Period.
If your question is: "Can I install my retail version of XP on another machine, like my laptop?" the answer is no. That much is unambiguous. See if this FAQ note helps to clarify things for you: faq779-4004
Windows XP does indeed allow installation on only one computer at a time. The details are in the EULA.TXT file on the CD. The difference between HE and Pro is that Pro can be installed on a 1 or 2 CPU workstation/computer but HE can't. A CPU is not a computer, only the Central Processing Unit on the motherboard in the computer case.
Office XP is different, the EULA does allow installing on A desktop/workstation and A portable device owned by the same person.
Office XP is different, the EULA does allow installing on A desktop/workstation and A portable device owned by the same person.
Berton,
A small quiblle.
Office allows an installation to support the underlying "Offline folder" feature of Win2k and XP. It is not a "pure" license for a second installation, just a concession to support the offline file feature.
Similarly, under a Terminal Service connection the remote machine is give a default license for MS applications, but not other applications. This is a concession to the remote folks.
I know it is a quibble, but if your second workstation is not using offline folders or TS sessions, there is not a license to install Office on a second computer.
A small quiblle.
Office allows an installation to support the underlying "Offline folder" feature of Win2k and XP. It is not a "pure" license for a second installation, just a concession to support the offline file feature.
Similarly, under a Terminal Service connection the remote machine is give a default license for MS applications, but not other applications. This is a concession to the remote folks.
I know it is a quibble, but if your second workstation is not using offline folders or TS sessions, there is not a license to install Office on a second computer.
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jawan, see if this helps.
302878 - Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Product Activation
302878 - Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Product Activation
To add to linney's link, I always found Jim Eshelman's explanation of activation and possible "gotchas" the clearest I have ever read:
bcastner, I see what you're saying but I was going by what the license says:
"1. GRANT OF LICENSE. This EULA grants you the following rights:
Applications Software. You may install, use, access, display, run, or otherwise interact with ("RUN"
one copy of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, or any prior version for the same operating system, on a single computer, workstation, terminal, handheld PC, pager, "smart phone," or other digital electronic device ("COMPUTER". 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."
I did it with Office XP on my main desktop computer and then installed it on my notebook. When it came time for activation on the notebook, it wouldn't do it and gave me a Microsoft number to call. Explained what I was doing and in accordance with the EULA and was given a new Activation code with no argument.
"1. GRANT OF LICENSE. This EULA grants you the following rights:
Applications Software. You may install, use, access, display, run, or otherwise interact with ("RUN"
one copy of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, or any prior version for the same operating system, on a single computer, workstation, terminal, handheld PC, pager, "smart phone," or other digital electronic device ("COMPUTER". 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."I did it with Office XP on my main desktop computer and then installed it on my notebook. When it came time for activation on the notebook, it wouldn't do it and gave me a Microsoft number to call. Explained what I was doing and in accordance with the EULA and was given a new Activation code with no argument.
Berton,
I do not see the difference in your EULA statement from what I suggested in plainer terms in my original "quibble" post.
A secondary license is permitted in order to support offline folders and Terminal Server. That is the practical side of things. Note how the EULA specifies "may make a second copy for his or her exclusive use on a portable computer."
If you are suggesting that it can be installed twice without violating the EULA, no. The intention as I said in my "quibble" was to allow a single user to use offline files and Terminal Server connections without violating the EULA.
If you are suggesting that Microsoft will issue a second key if requested; yes, in most cases they will. Will this permit a second installation even if not used by the licensed user? Yes, it will. But you will find a limit to the Microsoft good will. The original question was whether buying one license allowed you to install Office or the OS on every computer you owned. The answer is still NO.
I do not see the difference in your EULA statement from what I suggested in plainer terms in my original "quibble" post.
A secondary license is permitted in order to support offline folders and Terminal Server. That is the practical side of things. Note how the EULA specifies "may make a second copy for his or her exclusive use on a portable computer."
If you are suggesting that it can be installed twice without violating the EULA, no. The intention as I said in my "quibble" was to allow a single user to use offline files and Terminal Server connections without violating the EULA.
If you are suggesting that Microsoft will issue a second key if requested; yes, in most cases they will. Will this permit a second installation even if not used by the licensed user? Yes, it will. But you will find a limit to the Microsoft good will. The original question was whether buying one license allowed you to install Office or the OS on every computer you owned. The answer is still NO.
It's not 'my' EULA, it's Microsoft's. And you are correct that the OS can be on only one computer at a time. Office XP can be on a desktop computer and a portable device at the same time using one license. Only the Activation code will change.
Here's an interesting question and answer from the MS FAQ on Product Activation:
Will Microsoft ever stop issuing activation codes for any of the products that require activation?
Microsoft will also support the activation of Windows XP and will likely provide an update that turns off activation at the end of the product's lifecycle so that users would no longer have to activate the product.
Let's see now, when will that be...
Will Microsoft ever stop issuing activation codes for any of the products that require activation?
Microsoft will also support the activation of Windows XP and will likely provide an update that turns off activation at the end of the product's lifecycle so that users would no longer have to activate the product.
Let's see now, when will that be...
Well. The MS activation isue. I changed my MOB three times last year. I have the WIN XP prof. Corp edition. Everytime I had to call MS for a new activation code. Then I changed my drives to Raid; again reactivation. Anyway I got feed up with the high overseas call rates, (from Thailand) so finally I went to our local shop and bought a pirated version of XP. This came together with a key generator which can generate numerous legal key's and does not need to be activated. I wonder what the legal position is? I own a full retail version of XP Pro Corp., on a single computer. However I use now a copy. Is this legal or not? I paid full retail price for the original. But I do not use it as a paid more then 400 US$ for calls to activate the darn thing, you always have to wait and the clock is running. Could anyone help with the legal issue? Regards Jurgen
jurgen36,
1. Windows XP with a legitimate corporate license does not require activation.
2. There are regional activation sites for retail licenses. The notion that you spend US $400 in activation requests is silly.
3. There is a FAQ on this site, been there for a while, than explains how to preserve the original activation files after the changes you suggested.
4. There is nothing legal about using a key generator. If you are a corporate license account, a local call to your MS account manager would have avoided any issue.
5. Please contact Microsoft. Your local representatives are not doing their job, and corporate needs to know this. I spend some time in Thailand six months ago, and met with the local Microsoft reps. Please call them, as I found them quite compentent and capable. A corporate key account would not slip through the cracks like this.
1. Windows XP with a legitimate corporate license does not require activation.
2. There are regional activation sites for retail licenses. The notion that you spend US $400 in activation requests is silly.
3. There is a FAQ on this site, been there for a while, than explains how to preserve the original activation files after the changes you suggested.
4. There is nothing legal about using a key generator. If you are a corporate license account, a local call to your MS account manager would have avoided any issue.
5. Please contact Microsoft. Your local representatives are not doing their job, and corporate needs to know this. I spend some time in Thailand six months ago, and met with the local Microsoft reps. Please call them, as I found them quite compentent and capable. A corporate key account would not slip through the cracks like this.
Hello Bcastner.
Thanks for the quick reply. I will be in Bangkok in two weeks time and at the same time contact the MS rep. This could solve a few other problems which we have with other machines. Nobody advised us about this issue. We always were under the impression that we have to activate the installation. I will take my paperwork and the original CD with me to prove ownership. Incidently we did phone the UK site for activation as we bought it originally in London. Thanks again Jurgen
Thanks for the quick reply. I will be in Bangkok in two weeks time and at the same time contact the MS rep. This could solve a few other problems which we have with other machines. Nobody advised us about this issue. We always were under the impression that we have to activate the installation. I will take my paperwork and the original CD with me to prove ownership. Incidently we did phone the UK site for activation as we bought it originally in London. Thanks again Jurgen
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