XP License?

L

Luke B

Bit poster
I am installing for the first time and am getting a "The product ID you entered is not valid" when I'm attempting the XP install.
I'm unfamiliar with the rules on XP.

I have a legitimate license for Parallels as well as a legitimate license for XP, though the XP is used on 2 Dell computers (both purchased about 5 years ago).
I'm fine with UN-Licensing one of the Dells if that's what I need to do, though I could be doing something else wrong as I'm not too in tune with the pc side of the computer world (clearly).
Do I need to call Microsoft and if so, what am I telling them?
Thanks,
Luke
 
I did the custom instal and yes, it did get the OS installed, but it would not run until I activated it (with Product Key) and again the product key did not work.
Then I thought I could get past this by migrating the OS using Transporter. Transporter was awesome and it migrated my system just as it was on the Dell, but again I could not get into the OS without activating and again my activation # would not work.
After calling Dell it was determined that my Product Key was only good on a Dell computer (in theory only on the machine it was purchased with, but I'm pretty sure it's more about being a Dell computer than about it being the exact computer that the software was purchased with because I've used the software on a different Dell).
I purchased XP Pro and hoped that I would be able to use the Product Key to activate the migrated operating system, but no such luck.
I now have a new XP Pro virtual machine which is working fine.

I had hoped to archive and instal, but because I cannot get past the log in page of the migrated operating system I can't get to the XP instal disc.
Is it possible to migrate my old operating system into my fresh XP virtual machine?
Thanks,
Luke
 
Luke B said:
I have a legitimate license for Parallels as well as a legitimate license for XP, though the XP is used on 2 Dell computers (both purchased about 5 years ago).
Click to expand...

An XP license is valid for exactly one computer. Each computer has to have it's own license. Further, the license that comes with a Dell computer is an OEM license and is permanently locked to the first machine that it is installed on.
Only retail XP licenses can be moved to a new computer if the first computer is scrapped.
 
I made one last effort to migrate the Dell. I used my new retail XP disc in the Dell (archive and instal) thinking that this would change the activation.
Once up nd running I tried to migrate, but the Transporter said I was not choosing the active volume and I couldn't get the migration to happen.
I had little in regards to personal settings and softwre on the Dell, so I gave up and did fresh instal of XP to the vitual machine in Paralells and being that I'm doing this just to run Quickbooks it's probably best I keep the XP OS as simple as possible.
One thing I learned is that if I were to buy another Dell (or any PC), I woud not buy the OS from the pc manufacturer as you have more options by having a retail box of the OS.
Thanks for the help,Luke
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top