Brain Fart

[SkiMan]

Ok, I wanna do a fresh install of XP on one of my systems. I've got 3 desktop systems all with the same
version of XP and all 3 CD's are identical with the exception of the CD key.

The problem I have is I don't remember which one went to which computer. I don't want duplicate copies across two computers since that will trip the copyright protection. How do I figure out which one went to which?

...Or am I overthinking this...I'm not having a good morning, since the system we use for e-mail, banking etc. went to pot and I'm trying to get it back up asap.

[wooly15]

I have three computers running with the same key and have never had a problem. As long as you register all of them with the same name it won't flag. Never had a problem updating either. We also do the same thing in the labs at work without a problem. If it won't let you activate, just call New Delhi, err I mean Microsoft, and tell them your system crashed and you are reinstalling. They'll give you a new key.

[SkiMan]

I have three computers running with the same key and have never had a problem. As long as you register all of them with the same name it won't flag. Never had a problem updating either. We also do the same thing in the labs at work without a problem. If it won't let you activate, just call New Delhi, err I mean Microsoft, and tell them your system crashed and you are reinstalling. They'll give you a new key.

* Throws two XP CD's against the wall*
I bought these for what, then? I'm an idiot
Actually, I got one, uhm, freeish.

Now for my next problem...The CD's I have are upgrades only. I used to have a copy of 98 laying around that I used so I could just do the
upgrade thing. Now, I can't find it.

[wooly15]

I have a copy of vista you can HAVE! If you know anyone that has the same version of XP, you could use their disk and your key.

[SkiMan]

I have a copy of vista you can HAVE! If you know anyone that has the same version of XP, you could use their disk and your key.

I'll take it, if you're really offering it. I only do secure type stuff on that comp, and e-mail and such. No games, no anything, so no real computability issues.

[wooly15]

Shoot me an address and I'll mail it to you when I get back home friday. It's vista home premium, I think....OEM version, 32 bit. It's great for general computing but with games it's just too resource intensive. Takes too much away from it. When I killed my computer, I just never reinstalled it because I never used it.

[Softail]

Yup....XP does NOT have ANY copyright protection....that is why they invented VISTA!

You don't need to have the same name on the computer either....I've been running windoze xp pro across 5 computers for a while...

All you need is a valid KEY....it will work on ANY Windoze XP CD.

I have Windoze XP Professional if you is interested.