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I want to buy a new laptop. Can I transfer the programs from my Dell desktop to the new laptop, things like Microsoft Office, Windows Media, etc., or do I need to buy this software again? As with so many questions here, the answer starts with "it depends". It depends on what you mean by "transfer", and it depends on what the license is for each of the software packages. You may have to re-purchase some, but I'm guessing that for most, you won't. First let's define "transfer". If by that you mean "move" - removing the software from your old machine, and installing it on the new - then the answer is typically yes. As long as you have the original CDs to perform the install, or the original downloads, in the case of downloaded software, it's typically quite alright to install the software on your new machine, and delete it from your old. All that simply relies on the fact that most (though not all) software is licensed to be installed and run on only one machine at a time. It doesn't matter what machine, just that there's only one. "... most ... software is licensed to be installed and
run on only one machine at a time."
Which leads us to the other possible definition of "transfer". If you mean "copy" - where you would keep your old machine and have the same software installed on both - then you need to check the terms of the license for the software you're talking about. Many, perhaps most, are per-machine. Others, however, are per-location, or per-person, or allow you to install on some fixed number of machines (perhaps 2 or 3), or keep it installed on a machine as "backup". There are obviously many possibilities, many confusing possibilities, and the only real answer to staying totally legal is to check that license agreement for each software package. Note also that this only applies to software that you've purchased and that isn't freely available. Windows Media Player, which you've asked about, is a free download, and you can install that on as many machines as you wish. Microsoft Office, even if pre-installed with your computer, is subject to licensing restrictions. And in all cases, this is one another of the many reasons I strongly recommend you insist on installation CDs for all the software that comes with your machine. If you ever need to move, or reinstall to that same machine, you may simply be out of luck without the CDs. There are PC-to-PC settings and applications transfer utilities out there ... sometimes even drive imaging software can be used to perform this function ... but it doesn't always work reliably. The safest is always a clean install from the original media. Related:
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Regarding MS Office, it depends from where you purchased it. Also, is the user keeping the old PC or or not. If a legal copy of Office was purchased from a non PC manufacturer (not pre-installed on the original PC) then Office has a license for 2 PCs (a desktop & a laptop). Student & Teacher Edition of Office comes with a license to install on 3 PCs. If it came pre-installed (e.g. from Dell) then it has a license for that PC ONLY. Yes, you get the big shaft when you purchase pre-installed Office. If the user is keeping the older PC then the second license must be used to install it on new PC). Posted by: John in Colorado at March 21, 2006 04:24 PMOpenOffice.Org... as good as Microsoft Office for most people's uses and it's free. No worries about copying or transferring. Not all commercial software has a freeware alternative that's a viable replacement. And some "viable replacements" are only viable if you're an uber geek and ready to twiddle for hours. But OpenOffice.Org is ready for prime time. Hi All, I have an issue having reinstaleld my Windows office onto a new Dell harddrive. It works fine and everything but my name and details no longer appear on the "Licensed to" box on load up of software, nor in the item properties field following save etc. Did I accidentally skip the bit where i was suppossed to enter this info? many thanks, Tux Posted by: Tux at April 3, 2006 04:51 AMCan I install old game hardware (95/98/ME) onto It depends entirely on the specific hardware that you have in mind. Some may work, some may not. Posted by: Leo at June 19, 2006 05:09 PMI have a program that was put on my desktop for my business and now I want to put that onto my laptop. I do not have the cd's any longer. Am I able to copy that parogram someway? My computer Dell was stolen and I have a windows xp disk. I want to know if I can install this legal copy of windows on a non dell computer Posted by: robert alan at August 18, 2007 02:36 AMHow do I cancel a registration on one machine so that I may register it on my new machine? I don't have the other PC any more and I need Office 2007 Pro Plus on my new machine. How can I do that? Posted by: Scott Weber at December 15, 2007 12:54 PMI have puchased a new pc and it has windows xp preinstalled I have the recovery cd but what other software do I need to load to make this a standard PC. Regards I have an old computer with preinstalled Microsoft Office(so I don't have a CD). I bought a new computer and I want to move MS Office on it(by that I mean that I don't care about keeping the copy on my old machine). How could I do that? Posted by: Mihnea at June 10, 2008 06:33 AMPost a comment on "Can I transfer my software to my new machine?":
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