Trying to install XP on bootcamp

A

adrock25

Registered
Hi,
I recently bought a Dell Laptop for work that came with Windows XP (and a Vista upgrade CD). I also own a one year old iMac that I have for home use and love. My question is: can I install the copy of XP that came with my laptop on to bootcamp, or do I need to purchase a new license? What is the policy on this?

Also, I looked around my laptop for the validation key and could only find the Vista validation key sticker, not the XP. Would they be the same or must there be another sticker somewhere that I can't find.

Thanks
 
So far I can only answer two or three of those questions. Yes it will work fine, I in the past have used other discs that were made for certain computers and they worked fine.

I'm pretty sure with a license that came with computer, it is tied to that specific computer. In the past I've just seen them shut down that serial if you use it a couple of times and then you have to go purchase a new one, but that's only after using it on about 25 computers.

Usually the sticker with the key is stuck somewhere on the computer, usually on the bottom for laptops. If not, check the packaging for the CD, it might be around there somewhere.
 
icemanjc said:
So far I can only answer two or three of those questions. Yes it will work fine, I in the past have used other discs that were made for certain computers and they worked fine.

I'm pretty sure with a license that came with computer, it is tied to that specific computer. In the past I've just seen them shut down that serial if you use it a couple of times and then you have to go purchase a new one, but that's only after using it on about 25 computers.

Usually the sticker with the key is stuck somewhere on the computer, usually on the bottom for laptops. If not, check the packaging for the CD, it might be around there somewhere.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for the reply. The Vista sticker is indeed on the bottom of the laptop, but no sign of the XP sticker anywhere I can find. I downloaded some program that is supposed to go into the windows registry and pull out the activation code, but the code it came up with didn't work to activate the product. I guess I could just "upgrade" the iMac to Vista and use the code I do have, but I was hoping to stay with XP.
 
adrock25 said:
Thanks very much for the reply. The Vista sticker is indeed on the bottom of the laptop, but no sign of the XP sticker anywhere I can find. I downloaded some program that is supposed to go into the windows registry and pull out the activation code, but the code it came up with didn't work to activate the product. I guess I could just "upgrade" the iMac to Vista and use the code I do have, but I was hoping to stay with XP.
Click to expand...

Now that I think of it, it seems thats what they intended for you to do if they did not provide a key for XP. It appears that you are stuck with Vista even though XP is much faster.

My advice would be to not use any of those activation strippers, they never work and they just screw up your computer.
 
adrock25 said:
Hi,
I recently bought a Dell Laptop for work that came with Windows XP (and a Vista upgrade CD). I also own a one year old iMac that I have for home use and love. My question is: can I install the copy of XP that came with my laptop on to bootcamp, or do I need to purchase a new license? What is the policy on this?
Click to expand...

icemanjc said:
So far I can only answer two or three of those questions. Yes it will work fine, I in the past have used other discs that were made for certain computers and they worked fine.
Click to expand...

From an OEM upgrade CD? I highly doubt that will work.
 
The point is: your XP, and your Vista upgrade belong to a different computer. You don't have a validation key for XP, and your Vista key has already been used. What do you expect to do with the Windows software? It's not a legitimate use for the software, which is still installed on your real PC.
 
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