Multiple Computers with XP

ERAD Caz · 05-February-04, 06:29 PM

I may be a little paranoid about Microsoft and its evils, but just to make sure...

does installing XP from one purchased CD on more than one computer in the same house and activating it throught the M$ site run some kind of conflict with M$?

Jonny English · 05-February-04, 06:34 PM

I think it probably does

According to what I've been reading (buried somewhere at www.annoyances.org) the XP activation process includes logging what hardware you have in your rig, & part of the key is based on that, meaning it won't work on any other PC...

Having said that, it might work ... I know (not through personal experience, obviously

) that the "Windows Update" works fine for non-legit copies of various MS OS's.

TiZakit · 05-February-04, 06:41 PM

I heard somewhere that they were ignoring it for up to 3 PCs in the same household. I think it was here actually. But I haven't heard it lately.

Rafiki · 05-February-04, 06:46 PM

you you can use the same cd to install on different machines,HOWEVER You Must purchase a License Key for Each computer.
1 license,1 computer.
That is the only legal way to do it.

ERAD Caz · 05-February-04, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiZakit


	I heard somewhere that they were ignoring it for up to 3 PCs in the same household. I think it was here actually. But I haven't heard it lately.

Sucks for me, I want it on 3 computers in my house

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafiki


	you you can use the same cd to install on different machines,HOWEVER You Must purchase a License Key for Each computer. 1 license,1 computer. That is the only legal way to do it.

How much do they wanna rip me off for? eh, i mean pay for one license

Lord Dragon · 05-February-04, 08:16 PM

And the extra licences are only $10 cheaper than buying another full copy with disk.

jinxÂ© · 05-February-04, 08:24 PM

I say try it ERAD.

I know first hand that my older brother has XP Home installed on 2 different rigs in his own home, and also on one over at his sons house, all activated using the same product key with no fuss.

ERAD Caz · 05-February-04, 08:29 PM

its better to try than buy and find it useless, the only worry is that activation thing... it gives u 30 days to activate. and if i refuse, "give me XP or give me death!"

does the computer self destruct

or simply go on with life if u dont activate?

vf1000ride · 05-February-04, 08:32 PM

I have xp on both my machines from the same cd key. I have even had to reinstall on them since then and can say that they do limit the number of times you can use it. You get three installs without trouble and one more if you call them and cry the blues about a power surge that takes out your computer. If I'm remembering correctly when I made the mistake of asking MS about it while I had them on the phone begging they said it was $90 for the second licence. I could be off a little though cause this is going back almost 2 years.

Lord Dragon · 05-February-04, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERAD Caz


	its better to try than buy and find it useless, the only worry is that activation thing... it gives u 30 days to activate. and if i refuse, "give me XP or give me death!" does the computer self destruct or simply go on with life if u dont activate?

It will only boot to an activation screen.

neotheducky · 05-February-04, 09:39 PM

The supposed way they are doing it is clearing the keycode every 120 days. So if you want to install it on another system, you supposedly have to wait 4 months.

However, I currently have XP installed on 3 computers without much problem. If I have to reinstall, its kinda a pain, but all I have to do is call Microsoft Tech Support and they give me a number to put in and it activates fine.

CasseModder · 20-February-04, 07:47 PM

Their is another way but you need Windows XP Pro Corporate Im glad i got that

It installs on all my machines without no problem's

ERAD Caz · 20-February-04, 09:48 PM

For future reference: Micro$oft is more evil than I thought imaginable.

For those getting 2002 or greater versions, only one computer is allowed the COA, and they want another $50 or so for another damn number for ur other household PC's

Knee-ill · 20-February-04, 09:54 PM

If you can find it you can delete the Verify Windows XP process and it won't start counting until you restart your computer!

The problem is that it has a random name each boot up, so learn what is there and what changes

.

Red02 · 20-February-04, 10:38 PM

Your best bet would be to buy the corporate edition no activation needed

Dubbin1 · 22-February-04, 04:23 PM

Jeeze just install it and if it gives you any problems activating it just call MS and tell them you just reformatted or replaced some parts. I do it all the time and they never once gave me a hard time. As a matter of fact I just did it lastnight when I replaced my MB.

Dimazz · 22-February-04, 04:43 PM

I just instal it when ever i need it. Works everytime, registers fine everytime too. HAve it on about 5 rigs (including friends) With same key, never gave me a prob.

TYCOON · 22-February-04, 04:53 PM

I know 7 people using the same ms cd key for about 2 years now and none of them have had any troubles. They caught on to me after installing one of the service packs so i had to change the cd key...

Phhh who pays for stuff

05-February-04, 06:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
ERAD Caz Apex Master Tech Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 377	Multiple Computers with XP I may be a little paranoid about Microsoft and its evils, but just to make sure... does installing XP from one purchased CD on more than one computer in the same house and activating it throught the M$ site run some kind of conflict with M$?

05-February-04, 06:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jonny English Etiquette & English Gentleman Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 5,766	I think it probably does According to what I've been reading (buried somewhere at www.annoyances.org) the XP activation process includes logging what hardware you have in your rig, & part of the key is based on that, meaning it won't work on any other PC... Having said that, it might work ... I know (not through personal experience, obviously ) that the "Windows Update" works fine for non-legit copies of various MS OS's. __________________ [img] [/img]

05-February-04, 06:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
TiZakit Apex Tech Demi-God Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Brooklyn, Ohio Posts: 1,767	I heard somewhere that they were ignoring it for up to 3 PCs in the same household. I think it was here actually. But I haven't heard it lately. __________________

05-February-04, 06:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rafiki Apex Tech Maniac Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: southern NJ Posts: 855	you you can use the same cd to install on different machines,HOWEVER You Must purchase a License Key for Each computer. 1 license,1 computer. That is the only legal way to do it. __________________ "Doc says I Suffer from Delusions of Invincibility coupled with a Strong Homocidal Urge........ Basically, I have a Kick Your Ass Fetish." Molon Labe.

05-February-04, 08:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lord Dragon Apex Master Tech Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 464	And the extra licences are only $10 cheaper than buying another full copy with disk. __________________ Do not make a dragon angry, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketsup. ...and suddenly I feel like I'm trapped in a drug-induced Dr Suess nightmare

05-February-04, 08:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
jinxÂ© Still Duck's Hoe Though Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Limbo Posts: 2,166	I say try it ERAD. I know first hand that my older brother has XP Home installed on 2 different rigs in his own home, and also on one over at his sons house, all activated using the same product key with no fuss. __________________ "Life isn't like a box of chocolates...It's more like a jar of jalapenos... What you do today, might burn your @ss tomorrow."

05-February-04, 08:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
ERAD Caz Apex Master Tech Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 377	its better to try than buy and find it useless, the only worry is that activation thing... it gives u 30 days to activate. and if i refuse, "give me XP or give me death!" does the computer self destruct or simply go on with life if u dont activate?

05-February-04, 08:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
vf1000ride Apex Elite Expert Tech Join Date: May 2003 Location: columbus, oh Posts: 1,428	I have xp on both my machines from the same cd key. I have even had to reinstall on them since then and can say that they do limit the number of times you can use it. You get three installs without trouble and one more if you call them and cry the blues about a power surge that takes out your computer. If I'm remembering correctly when I made the mistake of asking MS about it while I had them on the phone begging they said it was $90 for the second licence. I could be off a little though cause this is going back almost 2 years. __________________ 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.

05-February-04, 09:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
neotheducky Rubber Duck-Hoe Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: St. Louis Posts: 1,557	The supposed way they are doing it is clearing the keycode every 120 days. So if you want to install it on another system, you supposedly have to wait 4 months. However, I currently have XP installed on 3 computers without much problem. If I have to reinstall, its kinda a pain, but all I have to do is call Microsoft Tech Support and they give me a number to put in and it activates fine.

20-February-04, 07:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
CasseModder Lokie's lil kneeling Hoe Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Racine, Wisconsin 53402 Posts: 275	Their is another way but you need Windows XP Pro Corporate Im glad i got that It installs on all my machines without no problem's

20-February-04, 09:48 PM	#13 (permalink)
ERAD Caz Apex Master Tech Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 377	For future reference: Micro$oft is more evil than I thought imaginable. For those getting 2002 or greater versions, only one computer is allowed the COA, and they want another $50 or so for another damn number for ur other household PC's

20-February-04, 09:54 PM	#14 (permalink)
Knee-ill Apex Advanced Techie Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: oHOEo Posts: 148	If you can find it you can delete the Verify Windows XP process and it won't start counting until you restart your computer! The problem is that it has a random name each boot up, so learn what is there and what changes . __________________ Compaq Presario S4000NX Added Window Added CCFL kit (blue) Added Blue Glowing fan (blue) Added 256mb Asylum GeForceFX 5200 video card GOING to get: Fan Controller 2x 512mb DDR Ram

20-February-04, 10:38 PM	#15 (permalink)
Red02 Freck-hoe-d Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: TejAs! Posts: 4,216	Your best bet would be to buy the corporate edition no activation needed __________________ You scratch our back will scratch yours. See the funny thing about that is my back is actually located on my c*ck - Seth "Superbad"

22-February-04, 04:23 PM	#16 (permalink)
Dubbin1 Apex Techie I Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 62	Jeeze just install it and if it gives you any problems activating it just call MS and tell them you just reformatted or replaced some parts. I do it all the time and they never once gave me a hard time. As a matter of fact I just did it lastnight when I replaced my MB. __________________ System Specs Windows XP Pro (sp1) Athlon XP 2500+ Barton@2800+ Thermalright SP97 HS Abit NF7-S rev 2.0 2 - Maxtor 80gig 8meg cache 512meg PC2700 ATI Radion 7500 Klipsch 5.1 Antec P160 Case

22-February-04, 04:43 PM	#17 (permalink)
Dimazz Sk8-Hoe-r Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Chesterfield, MI Posts: 2,108	I just instal it when ever i need it. Works everytime, registers fine everytime too. HAve it on about 5 rigs (including friends) With same key, never gave me a prob. __________________

22-February-04, 04:53 PM	#18 (permalink)
TYCOON Apex Tech God Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: SCHOOLLLSSS Posts: 4,728	I know 7 people using the same ms cd key for about 2 years now and none of them have had any troubles. They caught on to me after installing one of the service packs so i had to change the cd key... Phhh who pays for stuff __________________ AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ @ 2.7GHz DFI LanParty SLI-D 2GBs PC3200 @ PC3500 // 2.5-3-3-6 EVGA 7950GT 512MB @ Stock Audigy 2 ZS 36Gb Raptor (os) 2x300Gb WD SATA 16MB CACHE (storage) 450Watt OCZ modstream Coolermaster Wavemaster

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
One atx power switch for multiple computers?	Merkwurdigliebe	Case Modding	7	17-February-07 09:02 AM
Multiple external HDD	Cyroxos	Other Hardware	4	19-September-06 11:05 AM
Multiple T lines?	JKPCtech	Extreme Cooling	2	22-January-06 03:39 PM
Multiple Monitors	haider254	Video Cards	31	23-June-04 12:16 PM
Multiple Displays...	seoulman82	Video Cards	0	18-May-03 04:25 PM