You might well be able to do that successfully. MS' rules cab be quite
arcane at times, and there wouldn't be any harm in trying. I have done
this several times.
However, it would be far more secure to just make images of these
systems using something like Acronis or Drive Image XML, as was recently
discussed.
Putting the OS on a separate partition is a common practice and quite
reliable.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [PCBUILD] Avoiding loss of system
From: Bob Lendrim <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, October 28, 2009 12:28 pm
To: [log in to unmask]

I have 4 XP computers in use now. The oldest is a desktop I built. For
that, I bought an XP Pro OEM disk, and had my friendly computer guy
install it for me because I wasn't familiar with XP. I still have the
installation disk which is labeled as follows:
"Windows XP Professional 1-2 CPU
 OEM Product"
The last 3 XP computers I bought are reconditioned IBM units. They all
have a Windows license sticker but no Windows CD. The OS is on a small
partition on the C: drive. I assume this is common practice nowadays,
but don't know why and it doesn't seem reliable to me.

When the hard drive fails in my newer computers, I will probably lose
the "restore" partition, and will lose the use of the computer because I
lost the OS which I bought and paid for. Could I install a new hard
drive, use the older XP CD to install the OS and use the license number
for the appropriate computer? It's the easiest way I can think of. 

1. Will I be able to do that from a practical and legal point of view?
2. Can I use my 1 CD to repair a different computer that has a valid
license?
3. Will I have to reactivate the installation(s)? Never done that.
4. The computers are in 2 different locations. Can I copy the CD so as
to have a 
 copy with each machine?

I'm not trying to beat the system, just keep what I have paid for. 
Thanks for any info and suggestions. Bob 

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