Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

I own Windows XP Can I use it?

M

mister880

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 20, 2002
71
0
My Sony Laptop came with Windows XP installed on it and I no longer use it (screen broke) The laptop did not include a windows XP cd but does have the full system restore disc that includes the windows install.


First question, is it possible to extract the windows installer out of the restore disc and use it on my mac?

Question two, If I borrow a copy of Windows XP from someone else am I legally allowed to use it if I own a copy? Will my serial number printed on the bottom of my laptop work with any copy of XP?

Is the serial number tied to the hardware or do I own a copy of Windows XP that can be used on anything as long as it's the only copy being used?
Kevin
 
You do not own XP. A copy of XP was licensed to you for use with your laptop. At least that's how Microsoft sees it.

Read the EULA that came with your copy of Windows to see if you have transfer rights. If not, you're contractually SOL.

That said, some have reported that they have been given the proper handshakes after calling the MS Activation number...

B
 
You have one OEM license for Windows which is very likely tied to your Sony laptop. If so, it can only be installed on that laptop. No amount of begging/borrowing/stealing will make it legal to install on any other computer.
 
Do people actually read their EULA?

reh said:
You have one OEM license for Windows which is very likely tied to your Sony laptop. If so, it can only be installed on that laptop. No amount of begging/borrowing/stealing will make it legal to install on any other computer.
Click to expand...

I guess I am SOL! :(
 
since most oem purchases are tied to a hardware purchase, I think you would be within your legal rights if you removed the sony logo and glued it to your mac.

Serpent
 
I had a similar situation. I had XP on a dell that I bought, and I ended up putting Linux on the dell. I put the unused XP onto a home-built machine and called MS to activate it. I explained the situation to them, and they activated it for me without any problems.
 
serpent said:
since most oem purchases are tied to a hardware purchase, I think you would be within your legal rights if you removed the sony logo and glued it to your mac.
Click to expand...
You could take it at least a step further and put the HDD from the laptop in an external enclosure for the new Mac. ;)

timswim78 said:
I put the unused XP onto a home-built machine and called MS to activate it. I explained the situation to them, and they activated it for me without any problems.
Click to expand...
Told you there have been reports of successful transfers and activations. :p

I reiterate what I said: Read your EULA, if you think you are within your rights, call Microsoft and see what they think.

You might be able to earn the $80 an OEM license in the time it'll take you to sort it all out, even if you make minimum wage.

B
 
I recommend simply calling the activation line. I had a similar situation where my OEM computer crapped out and I installed the version of XP that came with it on my homebuilt. When I called in, they asked me if this was installed on 1 or mutliple computers. I simply told them it was installed on one and that I reinstalled due to the original having a hardware failure. they activated it, and it is still working to this day... although, I haven't turned it on since I got my mac pro....
 
You will be able to install boot camp with an OEM license. Don't borrow Windows. Remember that those of us running Windows natively and fully on Macs are better than those sorry nerds who run pirated sorta-working OS X on Windows hardware ;) :p

However, the Sony CD's contain an image of the default VAIO installs which wouldn't work in the Boot Camp install process without an extraction procedure which would be a right pain in the arse. Just buy an OEM license.
 
Sesshi said:
Just buy an OEM license.
Click to expand...

Can you do this for cheaper than buying the whole OEM package from say Newegg for $89??

For the other poster:

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer
SOL = Shasta Out of Luck (Shasta is a stand-in)
 
Sesshi said:
However, the Sony CD's contain an image of the default VAIO installs which wouldn't work in the Boot Camp install process without an extraction procedure which would be a right pain in the arse. Just buy an OEM license.
Click to expand...

Are there any programs that will do this for you??

Also will a slipstreamed version of windows XP work. I.e. I have a version of XP from an old computer, and want to create a bootable CD to intergrate SP2 and XP. I have found how to do this but am just wondering if any one has tried this with bootcamp as it says u need win XP SP2!!

Thanks for any responses!
 
BeefUK said:
Are there any programs that will do this for you??

Also will a slipstreamed version of windows XP work. I.e. I have a version of XP from an old computer, and want to create a bootable CD to intergrate SP2 and XP. I have found how to do this but am just wondering if any one has tried this with bootcamp as it says u need win XP SP2!!

Thanks for any responses!
Click to expand...


No real reason why a slipstreamed CD shouldn't work. Haven't tried it, mind.
 
ChrisG said:
I used my friends HP XP Install Disk on my MacBook, it works fine.
Click to expand...

One could ask - so where's your license key?

Besides that, Sony does things a little differently. It's much quicker to recover your machine for a start. For that reason, my Sony's are the only machines I actually 'refresh' the Windows install on a semi-regular basis so that it continues to run smoothly.
 
Sesshi said:
One could ask - so where's your license key?
Click to expand...
I tried one from my PC, and both of his. They all failed, so I just rang up Microsoft and they gave me a new one.
 
slackersonly said:
slipstream can change the SP level not the license issue.
Click to expand...

Yeah I know my question was maybe a litte off topic. Just wanted to know if a slipstreamed version will work, as when I buy a mac and need to install windows i only have XP, not XP SP2.

I have a version of XP which was provided with an old system, so I'm also interested to find the result of this tread! The slipstreaming questions was a side issue.
 
mister880 said:
I guess I am SOL! :(
Click to expand...
"I'm starving in the desert and I find a sandwich! But it's somebody else's sandwich, even though I'm starving and they've probably forgotten about it! Better starve then!"
 
BeefUK said:
Just wanted to know if a slipstreamed version will work
Click to expand...
Yes. Slipstreaming will work, although you'll have to make sure you make a bootable disc and might have to boot the disc manually.

B
 
balamw said:
Yes. Slipstreaming will work, although you'll have to make sure you make a bootable disc and might have to boot the disc manually.

B
Click to expand...

I know how to make it bootable but how do I boot the disk manually?
 
BeefUK said:
I know how to make it bootable but how do I boot the disk manually?
Click to expand...
Hold Option down during the boot process. Boot Camp might not recognize the disc, but it doesn't have to, only the bootloader really matters.

B
 
balamw said:
Hold Option down during the boot process. Boot Camp might not recognize the disc, but it doesn't have to, only the bootloader really matters.

B
Click to expand...

Great thanks for the advice!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back