Are there any security walls in place that will keep me from installing Windows XP on two computers from the same CD? I bought a new computer, it came with XP and I want to install it on my old computer.

Install it on as many machines as you'd like. The only problems are activation and the EULA you agreed to.

When you activate Windows XP it prevents you from installing the OS onto a different computer. You could try it but I dont think it would allow you and you would have to purchase a second license from Microsoft.

I had always heard what David Bell wrote. However, recently I had occasion to use WinXP CDs from computers that I had either junked or rebuilt with new MOBOs to reinstall the OS. These were purchased-licensed copies of WinXP that were being used only on one computer. Activation and registration caused not a hiccup and was routine. There is no way MS could have known my original computers and installations were no longer in existence and/or operable.

I've uninstalled and reinstalled XP many a time with the same CD and have had no problem and there is no way that they know that I uninstalled it and didn't install it on a different computer. The one thing you don't want to do is used a cracked key code because then when you try to update it they'll say its a pirated copy. E-mail me if what I said helped, it's part of the 12 steps.

Depends on what sort of copy of XP you have. It could be a volume lisence key that you have with it. In which case it will work with the same key even with activation. This is basically the same as a corporate key. Of course there are ways around the activation if you start tackling it before you install XP. But I can't remember what you need to do for that. You can do a lot with nothing... look in to space, what's there?

does that mean I can use a single retail product key to install windows xp on multiple computers (to for example do an unattended install on 20 pcs using the same retail product key)?