The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Easy to go from XP Home to XP Pro?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Dog Biscuit, Oct 27, 2006.

  1. Dog Biscuit

    Dog Biscuit Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I have just ordered an Inspiron 6400 with XP home (no disc) and was wondering if I could use the XP Pro disc from my old Inspiron 5100 to upgrade?

    If so, is it as easy as booting up my 6400 with the XP Pro disc and just letting it get on with it?

    Any advice appreciated!
     
    Dog Biscuit, Oct 27, 2006
    #1
  2. Silent

    Silent Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    150
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    No, you cannot. The Windows XP Professional disc you got with your Inspiron 5100 came with a license which can be used only for reinstalling Windows on that system alone, and not any other.
     
    Silent, Oct 27, 2006
    #2
  3. win32asmguy

    win32asmguy Moderator Moderator

    Reputations:
    1,012
    Messages:
    2,844
    Likes Received:
    1,699
    Trophy Points:
    181
    It wouldn't be legal, unfortunately. You also might need to slipstream SP2 into that cd if it is very old, as most of the newer chipset laptops require SP2 to install to the hdd during the first part of the setup.
     
    win32asmguy, Oct 27, 2006
    #3
  4. hollownail

    hollownail Individual 11

    Reputations:
    374
    Messages:
    2,916
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Well... It will work.
    I'm just not sure of the legal ramifications. I mean... you OWN the license to the OEM install disc. As long as you're not using it on two systems at once... I personally don't see a problem doing it. It's not ethically wrong, but legally...
     
    hollownail, Oct 27, 2006
    #4
  5. Iceman0124

    Iceman0124 More news from nowhere

    Reputations:
    1,133
    Messages:
    3,548
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    I dont think you'll get past product activation, when you put in the key it willl detect a new system, and not the one that was issued with the pro key. If you needed pro, you should have ordered pro, what you are asking is illegal and I'm surprised this thread hasnt been closed
     
    Iceman0124, Oct 27, 2006
    #5
  6. Dog Biscuit

    Dog Biscuit Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    A bit of an over-reaction don't you think?

    Every other piece of software I have seems to be OK if I change my PC over. I paid for XP Pro once and I don't see why I should have to pay for it again.

    But if there's a definite "illegal" aspect to it, then now I know ... and it seems ridiculous.
     
    Dog Biscuit, Oct 28, 2006
    #6
  7. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    @Dog Biscuit: There are already threads about the legal aspects of using the Dell OEM XP operating system disk. If you read the license that comes with your Dell machine, you'll understand why it isn't legal to transfer your OEM OS from one system to another.
     
    kegobeer, Oct 28, 2006
    #7
  8. Dog Biscuit

    Dog Biscuit Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I appreciate all of the help from everyone. You don't know what you don't know until sometimes points out that you don't know!

    Thanks to all. :)
     
    Dog Biscuit, Oct 28, 2006
    #8
  9. ScifiMike12

    ScifiMike12 Drinking the good stuff

    Reputations:
    801
    Messages:
    2,529
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    As long as you don't tell Microsoft then you are fine....

    *Muhahahha, they will never catch me!!... Muhahhaha!*

    Mike.
     
    ScifiMike12, Oct 28, 2006
    #9