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186
 
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Last Login: 16/08/2008 14:10:25
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A few years back I bought a laptop machine - it has served me well and has traveled the world with me. But, now it is dead. It could be brought back to life but actually I want to replace it with a more up to date one. Obviously the machine came with an operating system. (XP Home) I am just about to complete building a desk top machine.
OK, that's the back ground. Now here is the question.
Where do I stand, in legal terms, regarding the re-use of the operating system from my laptop? I will not be resurrecting the laptop - in fact, it has already been partly stripped for parts.
The reason that this question has come up is that I was not supplied with a system disk when I bought the laptop, only a 'recovery disk' which wants to install various equipment specific software. This will not work with my new system.
If I can find a way around this installation problem, do I actually HAVE a license to do so? In other words, does my license to use the OS extend to a different computer? (Given that it will be on one machine only)
Opinions would be interesting but if anyone knows a definitive legal answer that would be even more so.
Only nuts eat squirrels.....
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Pentium
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 25/08/2008 17:13:45
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The previous machine used an OEM version of Windows XP Home Edition, (due to it only having a recovery disk), this means that the OS belongs only with that particular hardware and use of it elsewhere would be a breach of the E.U.L.A.
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Pentium
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Welcome to the forum. 
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Pentium
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It's one of the biggest cons going as far as I'm concerened.
While the spare parts from you old car fit your new car the licence says you have to buy new ones.
It doesn't work in the real world but unforunately the law is in their favour.
EULAs seems to just say anything in them (i.e. if this program doesn't work and breaks something of yours then tough) and they get away with it.
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also: P3 for the mrs and a linux box and probably enough bits to build another one
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Pentium
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The specific terms can vary slightly between different EULAs, but effectively they are a contract that you or your agent (the installer) has signed up to by clicking on one of those little 'Agree' to proceed buttons.
Note that while the text in that little box can run to many pages, it can actually contain some helpful words, but is very unlikely to agree to re-use on a completely different PC or hard drive, but genuine hard luck stories have been known to move the Microsoft 'Re-Activation' mountain. 
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Pentium
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Bruce R (23/07/2008)
...but genuine hard luck stories have been known to move the Microsoft 'Re-Activation' mountain.
Unfortunately, that's very unlikely in this case, as it's a completely different system. If, for example, it was a desktop system and the motherboard had to be replaced due to failure, then you would probably be in luck, as I was when I had to repair my fathers system.
One thing to remember is that you don't actually buy a copy of Windows, you buy a licence. In this instance, the licence is for use on one particular system and expires with that system.
Snakelegsoup - Have you considered trying Linux? Depending on what you do with the system, you may not actually need Windows.
P.S. Welcome to the madhouse
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Pentium
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Again welcome to the madhouse.
I am with Tippers on this one. When I needed to replace the hard drive in my wife's lappy the Acer recovery disk refused to work. I installed Gutsy Gibbon and it made the system much faster and easier for her to use. (She just sends the "odd" email and does a little online shopping as well as letter writing). She has not noticed any real difference between Linux and Window$.
The GG quietly updated itself to Hardy Heron one day when she was using it and, again, she noticed nothing.
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Pentium
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Nothing stopping anyone buying a "full" licence, then you can transfer it as many times as you like.
Of course it costs more...
Dave R
XP Pro + various VMs: Q6600 @ stock, Asus V3-P5G33, 2GB DDR2 800, 7600GT
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