I have a Toshiba laptop which runs Windows XP Pro. However, the laptop is
about to breakdown. I'm thinking of buying a desktop without an OS. I
wonder if (and how) I can transfer my laptop Windows XP os to the new PC? The
laptop one came with the laptop.

"iamnew" <iamnew@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7FCE16A3-FBD0-4284-80E2-64347CE58E30@microsoft.com...
>I have a Toshiba laptop which runs Windows XP Pro. However, the laptop is
> about to breakdown. I'm thinking of buying a desktop without an OS. I
> wonder if (and how) I can transfer my laptop Windows XP os to the new PC?
> The
> laptop one came with the laptop.


No. OEM versions cannot be transferred to another machine.

On May 18, 8:50 am, "Gordon" <gbpli...******.com.invalid> wrote:
> "iamnew" <iam...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>
> news:7FCE16A3-FBD0-4284-80E2-64347CE58E30@microsoft.com...
>
> >I have a Toshiba laptop which runs Windows XP Pro. However, the laptop is
> > about to breakdown. I'm thinking of buying a desktop without an OS. I
> > wonder if (and how) I can transfer my laptop Windows XP os to the new PC?
> > The
> > laptop one came with the laptop.
>
> No. OEM versions cannot be transferred to another machine.

Also, not sure if the Toshiba comes with a complete install CD of XP.
Most laptops come with a Recovery media to restore the hard drive back
to "factory" defauts and several of these Recovery medias are "locked"
to a specific machine type.

Thanks for the answers. Yes, the laptop came only with a recovery disk.

"smlunatick" wrote:

> On May 18, 8:50 am, "Gordon" <gbpli...******.com.invalid> wrote:
> > "iamnew" <iam...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >
> > news:7FCE16A3-FBD0-4284-80E2-64347CE58E30@microsoft.com...
> >
> > >I have a Toshiba laptop which runs Windows XP Pro. However, the laptop is
> > > about to breakdown. I'm thinking of buying a desktop without an OS. I
> > > wonder if (and how) I can transfer my laptop Windows XP os to the new PC?
> > > The
> > > laptop one came with the laptop.
> >
> > No. OEM versions cannot be transferred to another machine.
>
> Also, not sure if the Toshiba comes with a complete install CD of XP.
> Most laptops come with a Recovery media to restore the hard drive back
> to "factory" defauts and several of these Recovery medias are "locked"
> to a specific machine type.
>
>

"iamnew" wrote
> Thanks for the answers. Yes, the laptop came only with a recovery disk.
> "smlunatick" wrote:
>>"Gordon" wrote:

>> > "iamnew" wrote
>> > >I have a Toshiba laptop which runs Windows XP Pro. However, the
>> > >laptop is
>> > > about to breakdown. I'm thinking of buying a desktop without an OS.
>> > > I
>> > > wonder if (and how) I can transfer my laptop Windows XP os to the new
>> > > PC?
>> > > The
>> > > laptop one came with the laptop.

>> > No. OEM versions cannot be transferred to another machine.

>> Also, not sure if the Toshiba comes with a complete install CD of XP.
>> Most laptops come with a Recovery media to restore the hard drive back
>> to "factory" defauts and several of these Recovery medias are "locked"
>> to a specific machine type.

Then it's an OEM version of XP. OEM versions, by the license, are tied to
the first computer on which it's installed and can't be tranferred to a
different computer.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

if you were going from a desktop to desktop, it might be reasonable to try it.
laptops have a lot of specialized hardware and the OS is customized for it.
highly unlikely that the RESTORE disk fro the laptop would work on a desktop.

when you buy your desktop have the xp included and make sure you get REAL cd/dvd for the OS with it. NOT restore disk.




mikeyhsd@comcast.net



"iamnew" <iamnew@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:D309DBE6-9E97-41EE-957F-017CDBB759D0@microsoft.com...
Thanks for the answers. Yes, the laptop came only with a recovery disk.

"smlunatick" wrote:

> On May 18, 8:50 am, "Gordon" <gbpli...******.com.invalid> wrote:
> > "iamnew" <iam...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >
> > news:7FCE16A3-FBD0-4284-80E2-64347CE58E30@microsoft.com...
> >
> > >I have a Toshiba laptop which runs Windows XP Pro. However, the laptop is
> > > about to breakdown. I'm thinking of buying a desktop without an OS. I
> > > wonder if (and how) I can transfer my laptop Windows XP os to the new PC?
> > > The
> > > laptop one came with the laptop.
> >
> > No. OEM versions cannot be transferred to another machine.
>
> Also, not sure if the Toshiba comes with a complete install CD of XP.
> Most laptops come with a Recovery media to restore the hard drive back
> to "factory" defauts and several of these Recovery medias are "locked"
> to a specific machine type.
>
>

iamnew wrote:
> I have a Toshiba laptop which runs Windows XP Pro. However, the laptop is
> about to breakdown. I'm thinking of buying a desktop without an OS. I
> wonder if (and how) I can transfer my laptop Windows XP os to the new PC? The
> laptop one came with the laptop.


Based on your description, you have an OEM license for WinXP that
came with the Toshiba laptop. An OEM version must be sold with a piece
of hardware (normally a motherboard or hard rive, if not an entire PC)
and is _permanently_ bound to the first PC on which it's installed. An
OEM license, once installed, is not legally transferable to another
computer under _any_ circumstances.

You'll need to purchase an new WinXP license for use on the new
computer.


--

Bruce Chambers

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