Can I use one XP recovery CD across multiple models ?

Message

wearetheborg · #1 Post by **wearetheborg** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:08 am

I have a recovery CD for T42, can I use it for say T43 or a T60? i only need the OS, drivers etc I can install from Linovo. The T43/T60 has its own COA.

#2 Post by **ryengineer** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:14 am

I am not going to comment on the ability to install it on another machine but it's not legitimate.

whizkid · #3 Post by **whizkid** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:22 am

IANAL, but I'd say that as long as you have a COA, which you do, it doesn't matter from where you install. Microsoft already got their money.

However, some machines have very different hardware and came with different software. T40, T41 and T42 are very compatible. T43 is different, having an ExpressCard slot and different video(?). T60 is completely different: CPU, chipset, memory controller, video, SATA, etc. LMNOP :)

So for your specific cases, it will work somewhere between a little and not at all.

The Spirit of X21 · #4 Post by **The Spirit of X21** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:18 pm

Technically, yes... ryengineer is correct. It is not legitimate to use the CD on a different model ThinkPad. Having said that, from a practical perspective as long as you have the CoA you are licensed to install XP - I wouldn't lose sleep over it. whizkid is correct in saying that there could be some driver issues with your hardware, but it is likely that you could use XP's hardware detection and Windows Update to fix those issues.

wearetheborg · #5 Post by **wearetheborg** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:35 pm

I'm a bit puzzled. Why is it not legitimate to use the CD on multiple systems ? Will windows even install without a COA ?

Isnt the windows cost a "liscence" to install on a particular system ? If I have that liscence (through a COA), does it matter what medium I install windows with ?

#6 Post by **carbon_unit** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:28 pm

This is the "splitting hairs" thing that Microsoft loves.
Technically, a T42 is licensed to use the version of XP that is on the recovery discs for a T42, not on the discs for any other T series even though it is virtually the same thing. I doubt Microsoft is going to bust your door in and arrest you for it, but it is technically illegal.
Morally, Microsoft got paid if there is a COA sticker. Don't worry too much about it.
Actually, T42 recovery discs will install XP on a variety of machines without asking for a COA or requiring activation. Not recommended.
Let your conscience be your guide.

Website · #7 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:21 pm

carbon_unit is 100% correct...

They will even work on a 600E...

wearetheborg · #8 Post by **wearetheborg** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:46 pm

carbon_unit wrote:This is the "splitting hairs" thing that Microsoft loves.
Technically, a T42 is licensed to use the version of XP that is on the recovery discs for a T42, not on the discs for any other T series even though it is virtually the same thing. I doubt Microsoft is going to bust your door in and arrest you for it, but it is technically illegal.

Wow, this is really retarded. I can understand if MS cannot engineer XP to allow above (say to disallow COAs being used on machines other than the original one), but so long as the COA is on the original machine, it should be 100% legal to install it from any other disk. What if the original disks are lost or become damaged ?

#9 Post by **bill bolton** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:50 pm

wearetheborg wrote:Wow, this is really retarded.

So don't use Microsoft product then!

Otherwise, if you want to argue about Microsoft licencing terms and conditions, you need to do that with Microsoft.

The Spirit of X21 · #10 Post by **The Spirit of X21** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:19 pm

wearetheborg wrote: Wow, this is really retarded.

It's silly, which is why most of us don't lose much sleep over it as long as we have the CoA.

#11 Post by **carbon_unit** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 4:51 pm

Exactly.

Can I use one XP recovery CD across multiple models ?

Can I use one XP recovery CD across multiple models ?

Who is online