XP Licensing Q

I'm looking at buying an XP license. I've seen one that comes with media but
is sold for use with Dell PCs only. I already have my own XP discs, so I'm
wondering if it's just the discs that won't work with non-Dell PCs or the
license number itself?

Anyone had any experience of this?

Thanks
Ste

 

I am fairly certain you will find it won't work with non-Dell machines. I
believe it searches the BIOS for information as to the machine
manufacturer. I know someone who bought an OEM disk off eBay and it
wouldn't install on his home build PC.
If you have an XP disk and it is genuine why do you need a licence or is
that a daft question?

 

That would be a Dell OEM disk. It won't work with a non-dell machine,
without a lot of buggering about. Should you manage this, it won't be
legal - so you should either save yourself the money and mither and download
a dodgy copy off the net (wrong!) or buy a real licenced copy for around 65
quid from one of the many cheap retailers of it.

ric

 

I know that the license numbers are somewhat specific to version and
country - i.e. an OEM license wont work with a retail copy (and vice
versa), and I don't think a US license will work on a Chinese Language
version. Whether that extends to Dell OEM license not working with
<whatever sort of CDs you have> I can only guess, but I'd guess 'quite
probably not'.

The License agreement would also say 'for use on new machine only' and
quite possibly 'for use on Dell machine only', so you'd be violating
that too.

 

Thanks for the info - I think I will give this one a miss, don't really want
to take the chance and what you're saying makes sense.

Not a daft question as to my media really - I picked up a good deal on
Compaq XP discs which will work with any machine, but the offer didn't
extend to actual licenses, hence my need now

Thanks
Ste

 

What I'm really getting at is whether the actual license number is specific
to Dell machines.

As I've said - I already have the actual XP discs (and they're legit too!)

Thanks
Ste

 

Technically no more legit that a pirate copy on CD-R, and worth no
more either. It's the licence that determines a copy of the software
is legal, the media are practically worthless without it.

--

[ Mail: ]
[ WWW: http://www.hopwood.org.uk/ ]

 

The license will be for Dell PCs only, meaning you'll be in breach of it
straight away, thus you'll be spending money for nothing.