As regards a product Key for an OS system such as XP.......is there a limit to the amount of times it can be used??

as in for insatll or activation

You can only activate with the same key 3 times in 6 months (or it could be a year, cant really remember)

As regards a product Key for an OS system such as XP.......is there a limit to the amount of times it can be used??

That's a little like asking how many candles you can light of'n one match.

As for the product key, it matters what ver of XP it's for and where it came from.

As for the product key, it matters what ver of XP it's for and where it came from.

its xp home, it was given to me by a friend, and its a genuine version

Mind you....it really doesn't matter to me, but....

Was it a new package? Or, had it already been used by your friend?

If so, it's not legal for you to use it too.

I think that's the proper response for this forum.

I know a moderator will correct me if I'm wrong.

That would depend on whether or not it came preloaded on a new computer. If it did, then no, you cannot transfer that license (product key and COA) to another machine. However, if it's a retail copy (purchased either retail OEM or retail packaging, and not with a new PC), then yes it can be transfered. The old user must uninstall Windows and replace it with another OS before you install and activate it though, as it can only (legally) be installed and activated on one machine at a time.

Thanks for all of your replies everyone..makes it a bit clearer

as for the fact thats its a second hand copy....well im sure mr gates won't lose any sleep over it