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Hey people, i have kinda an odd question. A few months ago I bought a new dell laptop with windows xp. About a month later it got stolen from work. Today I was going through some stuff and found all the paperwork for the dell and noticed the winxp cd. So my question is, since I bought the license for the os, can I install it on another computer? I am new to xp and am not sure what will happen. I think I have heard something about it will quit working in 30 days?
I am tempted to try it and see what happens. I would love for it to be flagged and somehow figure out where my laptop is. Not sure how it works though. I have all manuals, receipts, etc for the laptop if it matters.
Brew
Hi Brew,
If you've reported your laptop as stolen with the police, then maybe you ought to ask them to contact Microsoft.
Yes, you can install XP: you are the owner of the license. But XP needs to be activated either over the web or by phone, so if your XP-key was used to activate your laptop, you may get 'bumped' from activating the new one until Microsoft can be notified of the problem. There may be instructions at the MS site for these cases.
If your laptop has been used to do a WindowsUpdate (while your OS was still on it), then you(the police) could have a real chance of finding the current location through the IP number.
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Do you have the installation key that came with the laptop. Its usually on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop. Without it you are going to have problems.
If you still have it you can but try. It may work depending on when it was last activated. More than 90 days ago and you will be fine. You will have to activate it within thirty days. If the activation fails you can ring Microsoft and tell them the problem and hope they believe you.
The problem then arises is if the thief tries to reactivate another copy of XP with the same installation key. You are then stuck with the problem of having to convince Microsoft that the key actually belongs to you. Dell may be able to help you in that respect. I am sure they keep a record of installation keys they issue with their computers.
Its unlikely they will be able to trace the laptop unless the thief is really stupid and gives his name and address to Microsoft if he comes up against the same problems are you are likely to.
This assumes that the disk is a full installation disk and not just a recovery disk.
Stuart
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Scan in a copy of the police report and send a e-mail letter from you to microsoft. Then back it up with a hard copy of both with your signature on both. Send it certified mail with a return recept. The police report shows you no longer have control over the computer and they need to deactivate the xp copy next time it comes online. My gut tells me they will issue a new key code for you.
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These two items may also be of general interest too? The second also has an address etc. towards the end for M$ Legal Affairs Dept.
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html
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Most of the Dells come with a WinXP CD that is coded to install only on a Dell system. As to the license key the only place it is found would be on the COA sticker on the laptop.
Richard Lyon
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thanks people, I will see if I can find the police report and all the rest of the stuff from the computer. I don't believe I have the installation key from the computer, just all the original paperwork from dell, so if it isn't there I might be SOL. Thanks again, I will give these ideas a try.
Brew
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Brew,
The guys that said that the key is on the notebook are correct. Dell and most other computer companies have to put that Windows XP Install Key on the computer. Though anyone that does deal with Microsoft knows to write these numbers down in a notebook and keep those numbers in a safe place in case of fire or theft....That way you still at least have your key number writen down although that sticker is the legal prof of license though so you must be carefull of what you do and how you do it. Always take this info and help at your own risk because non of us will be held for what you do with the info.
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Ok, just an update. I bought a new dell 400sc a month or so ago for a HTPC. This is the computer I wanted XP on so I thought what the heck. I used the lappy's XP cd, installed it and then used windows update. I updated everything including XP Service Pack 1. I heard that if the key is not valid, this will not work? So since everything seemed to work, I am assuming I never, nor did the jerk thief, ever use windows update with the lappy?
OR, since the new computer was a dell and the cd was for a dell, it basically put 1+1 together and it worked? Does a computer like that have a XP key built in? The computer had no OS on it when I got it. I also found and d/l a program to get the key, so at least now I have it written down.
I know this all sounds kinda shifty, but I swear it is all true. :)
Brew
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