Activativating XP on a new machine

I have decided to go back to XP from vista as I'm having too many problems with drivers, BSODS you name it. I'm going to wait for a stable update before running it again.

I'm going to buy a copy of XP pro 64 OEM.

My question is, if I install xp on my machine now, when I build another machine some time in the future can I then install & activate xp again, as I’ve heard that it's locked to certain aspects of a machine once activated, I've searched this forum & many others for answers to this but can't find a definitive conclusion. I did have this problem before, I upgraded my hp machine which had xp home preinstalled & when I tried to activate it again it wouldn't let me, but I have read that’s because of its license with hp. I’m hoping this doesn’t apply in all instances of upgrades/rebuilds?

Also can I install vista on my new machine & activate it again.

The machine I'm using now will go to my sons & will have my version of xp home which I had to buy because of my previous problems with my hp machine, which I’m hoping will work as it did before.

I have read this http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx but it’s not all plain English (if you get my meaning)

I’m hoping someone on here can answer this confusing issue.

Many thanks in advance

Elv

 

I believe the technical answer would be one machine, one installation. There are all kinds of permutations depending on what version of XP - major manufacturer OEM, system builder OEM, upgrade and retail. I want to be careful about misleading you, but the best answer I can provide (and you'll have to do some interpreting) is that Microsoft is pretty reasonable if one approaches them in a straight forward honest manner. To say much more than this might run afoul of their published policies and the rules of this board.

 

If you want to upgrade the operating system on a HP, I think you will find you need to buy the upgrade disk from HP, as you seem to have found, a retail version won't work. Find your model at the HP website www.hp.com/support and look up the information for upgrading the OS.

Win XP 64 bit? Not all hardware manufacturer's have made drivers for it. I trialled it and when I wanted to install a HDTV card, there were no drivers (only some of the prominent manufacturers were providing them for the latest models), which meant buying a new card or not running the hardware. If you want to run any more than "basic" hardware, check that drivers are available first.

Matt

 

Thanks for the replies.

I did some more research into 64bit & as you mentioned Matt the driver support is very limited, also i wouldn't gain anything against the standard 32 bit system as i don't do any editing or such like.

I suppose I will have to try my luck ?

As for the Hp update I had changed many hardware components so had to purchase a new license.

 

Not always necessary - again Microsoft can be quite accomodating if you approach them in a straight forward honest manner.

 

It will only be on one PC, just a different one after the initial activation.