DazV

Hi, I'd like to upgrade a couple of work's PCs that don't have official Windows serial nos.

My question is, if I buy an official upgrade to WinXP will it replace the existing ones with new legit ones ?

JackClark

There are well documented methods for doing this. I searched google.

Sonic'

last time I did it (48 PC's from XP Home to XP Pro)

it was an upgrade, each one asked me for the serial number

Steve

IanW

The upgrade would only give you an upgrade liscence, you would also require a full liscence for the software that you were upgrading from.

So by doing it that way your installations would still technically be illegal.

IIRC

ChrisB

Win XP Upgrade Entitlement Matrix

As Ian says, you should buy the full version of XP unless you previously had a license for say Win 98, ME or 2000 on that PC.

dsmith

if they have illegit XP and you just want to change the serial number to a new feshly purchased legit XP one - you can do that without re-installing.

Deano

JackClark

I think Microsoft produced a utility for doing this on multiple machines, not sure though.

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

For an upgrade license to be fully legal, you need to have the license for the product you are upgrading from! So although it may work, it is not legal!

IMHO I think it would be best going for a full copy of XP!

DazV

Ok guys thanks...

There's a legit version of WinME
For this I'll purchase an official WinXP Upgrade as I have the original licence.

There's a non-legit version of WinXP
If I upgrade this with legit WinXP Upgrade, is the previous serial number traceable ?

There's a non-legit version of Win2k
Ditto above - is the previous serial traceable ?

-DV

IanW

Still the same situation for the last 2 PC's Daz, if you buy an upgrade liscences fro those PC technically they would not be legal.

They will require a full copy of Windows XP.

IanW

Yes because you are legally liscenced for Win ME there for will be eligible for an upgrade installation of Windows XP

ChrisB

My understanding would be yes. You have the kosher Win Me license which entitles you to upgrade to XP.

DazV

Excellent - looks like thats how I'll do it then. Time to dig out those old rust copies of Win98!

-DV

DazV

Jack and Sonic - I'm a a little confused here...

All I want to do is take some exisiting none legit copies of WinXP then buy and install the official legit upgrades.

I'm hoping those PC's will then finally have payed for / legit windows with proper serial nos.

Yes ?

-DV

[Edited by DazV - 1/2/2003 1:56:50 AM]

DazV

Ok, answer me this...

One computer came supplied with WinME and legit licence, but it was wiped and had WinXP non-legit put on it.

Question - could we use the original WinME legit licence along with a new legit WinXP Upgrade ?

So that begs the question, regardless of what illegit serial we're running on a PC now, if I can dig out a manual with a legit Windows licence (Win98, etc)...I can then put the legit WinXP upgrade on the dodgy OS and be fully legal ?

-DV



[Edited by DazV - 1/2/2003 2:38:45 PM]