OEM xp install on a drive in another compute

I have an XP home cd that came with my Gateway pc. Well no, it's not really an XP home cd, but one of those 'system recovery' cds containing XP. I'm not using it as I'm currently running a verion of pro, but I'm wondering if I plug a friend's new hard drive into my pc and run that install, will the harddrive work in his own pc? (not a gateway, but an ibm)

 

Those things are pretty system specific so while it would probably do OK on another Gateway, I'd expect another brand to do poorly with it. Probably.

I'd expect it to load fine if it is seeing Gateway hardware but when moved to the IBM, ????

 

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Stupid fake-xp disc ****.

 

It probably won't work, Daughter had Gateway, built her a new machine, tried to use Gateway CD. Nope, error message says not Gateway machine, would not install. Had to buy new OS.

Martin

 

Hi Arie: How come then, I can buy a legal OEM of XP online from any number of reputable vendors, install it in a home built machine, trash that machine, install in another? Product key legal, WPA works. Probably Gateway et al get huge discount?

Martin
"Super Geek "?

 

Anything for a buck!

Martin

 

Hmm..

That sounds like the way to go. It certainly saves a few bucks. If it's illegal but do-able, it represents a chink in the WPA armor. Of course it would be unethical and nobody here would consider it as an option. The hitch is, the unwashed masses don't know which OEM disk to buy.

 

Hey Surferdude: No, it can't be illegal, I have 3 machines running their own OEM copy of XP Home, all came in a folder from MSFT with legitimate product keys and all activated with WPA. They came with stickers from MSFT, just like the ones you will find on a Dell or Gateway machine, I dutifully stuck them on the machines when the build was completed.

I've had to reactivate this machine any number of times, I'm always changing hardware. Have spoken to MSFT Gestapo supervisors many times, none ever questioned legitimacy of OS install disk.

Hitch with OEM disc, you have no support either from MFG, (me in this case) or MSFT. You are on you own. Which is why I'm now a lifetime member of bbs.

Take care

Martin