From: rhondalea@gmail.com   
      
   john orwen wrote:   
   > I am told by a local computer store they can easily accomplish this   
   > with no hassle for a mere $100 fee. If that then why can't I for a   
   > mere $0.00.  If it can be done then it should be able to be done no   
   > matter what the cost is.   
      
   Read again what relic wrote.   
      
   Slowly.   
      
   Maybe even several times slowly.   
      
   It should come to you eventually.   
      
   "relic"  wrote in   
   > message news:472c9f11$0$4993$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...   
   >> john orwen wrote:   
   >>> I have a Gateway E-1400 500Mhz computer with a 20GB hard drive with   
   >>> Windows XP Professional installed on it.  It was already installed   
   >>> on the computer when I purchased it.  I do not have the original   
   >>> Windows XP Professional installation CD or the COA.  Is there   
   >>> anyway that I can transfer this OS with all of the programs   
   >>> including Microsoft Works 2003 to a different hard drive on a   
   >>> totally different computer with a more modern motherboard, CPU, RAM   
   >>> and hard drive and have the OS update it self to all of the new   
   >>> settings without having the original installation CD or the COA.   
   >>> This sounds really dumb.  I tried this one time before in a similar   
   >>> scenario with Windows 2000 Professional and really bungled things up   
   >>> to where the transfer wouldn't work on the new system and the hard   
   >>> drive I bungled wouldn't go back and work on the old computer.   
   >>>   
   >>> Can anyone shed resourceful light on this subject to aid me in my   
   >>> quest ?   
   >>   
   >>   
   >> Simple answer, no.   
   >>   
   >> You can extract the Product Key, but an OEM version can't legally be   
   >> transferred.   
   >> You could use a copy of XP Pro obtained from a friend with your Key,   
   >> but it must match (OEM Keys won't work with a Retail version).   
   >> You have to have XP Pro available on a CD. Without a CD, you can't   
   >> do the Repair installation that's necessary to get the drivers   
   >> needed by the new PC. Same thing for a Clone copy.   
   >>   
   >> BUY a new copy of XP Pro while they are still available. (An OEM   
   >> version is cheaper than a Retail version.)   
      
   --   
   Rhonda Lea Kirk   
      
   AUK Galactic Killfile, 15 May 2007   
   http://groups.google.com/group/alt.usenet.kooks/msg/23766545e259d53c   
   Winner, Golden Killfile, April 2007   
   Co-Office Holder, Ministry of Circle Jerks, April and May 2007   
   Member, Human O-Ring Society, March 2003   
   NCB#16 BJDS#2 INAC#77 PSLCK#1 SBG#1 A-29204   
      
   Some are tempted to think of life in cyberspace as insignificant,   
   as escape or meaningless diversion. It is not. Our experiences there   
   are serious play. We belittle them at our risk. Sherry Turkle   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)