[Fulcanelli]

Over the years I have 'acquired' a number of versions of Windows OS. Can I use these older versions (XP and Windows 7) from computers that are no longer in use on different computers than they were originally bought or intended?

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Are these branded old systems? As in HP, Compaq, Dell?

[rshaffer61]

Are these branded old systems? As in HP, Compaq, Dell?

[Fulcanelli]

I'm not sure what you mean. These are computers that I bought but are no longer in service. I took them to the recycling center last year. When I bought them, I got disks to reinstall and I wonder if I can use them on a different computer?

[rshaffer61]

The disk though they may be for a HP or such will be model specific. That is what I'm asking.
If the OS installation disks are Genuine Microsoft OS installation disks and they are not installed on any system presently in use with the serial number then yes you can use them but each can only be used once.
Now the exception is if say you have 2 systems that had XP installed by the factory and the OS disk you have is a OEM version. Then you can use that disk to install on both systems as long as each system has it's own serial number. Again this would mean if the system is a branded system since each should have a sticker on it some where indicating a original OS, version and serial number.
Does this make more sense or have I confused the situation even more?

[happyrock]

if you have a retail version of the OS and the old system died and you have new hardware then yes you can install it...any version that came preinstalled on a computer is married to that computer and won't work on different hardware...because when it was first installed and activated it made a log of the processor mobo...hard drive...RAM...NICs among other things so if you try installing it...it will just stop and say something like this isn't for this system...yada-yada