Killing my laptop but dont have windows

jgallcash

so i'm selling my old packard bell laptop and will be using dban to delete all information from the drive.
I dont have a copy of windows xp but do have my product key. can i still use DBAN to wipe the disk and install xp so that i can prep the laptop to be sold somehow?

4743hudsonj

jgallcash wrote: »

so i'm selling my old packard bell laptop and will be using dban to delete all information from the drive.
I dont have a copy of windows xp but do have my product key. can i still use DBAN to wipe the disk and install xp so that i can prep the laptop to be sold somehow?

nope afraid not(legally anyways)

i suggest a linux os like kubuntu as windows users wont find it too much of a jump

or the win 7 rc1? if theyre capable of installing a new os when it expires.

Lum

4743hudsonj wrote: »

nope afraid not(legally anyways)

Sorry but this is rubbish. With Microsoft software, so long as you are using a valid product key they don't care where the media comes from. You can copy it from a friend, download it off the internet*. You can even download it from Microsoft's site if you have an MSDN subscription.

Just make sure that you obtain the correct version of Windows, which is probably XP Home OEM, or maybe XP Pro OEM. If you accidentally end up with a Retail or Corporate version then it will not accept your product key unless you alter the CD before burning it.


I wouldn't stick Windows 7 on there, either you'll have to inform the buyer in your advert what you've done, or they'll find out themselves next year and start demanding their money back. Plus if the laptop is old it might not even run Win7 very well.

* Be careful if you go down this route and make sure someone hasn't loaded it up with viruses. Much better to borrow/copy a CD if you can.

Donnie

Lum wrote: »

* Be careful if you go down this route and make sure someone hasn't loaded it up with viruses. Much better to borrow/copy a CD if you can.

Scan it before installation..

jgallcash

Yeah, my product Key is Cosha no problems there.

Is there a quick way of finding out which version of XP (home or pro OEM) i'm running?

I'll try and find somewhere to download a copy before scanning it using AVIRA

macman

jgallcash wrote: »

Yeah, my product Key is Cosha no problems there.

Is there a quick way of finding out which version of XP (home or pro OEM) i'm running?

I'll try and find somewhere to download a copy before scanning it using AVIRA

It say which XP version it is on the splash screen when you boot it up.
If it was pre-installed when you bought the computer new, then it wil be an OEM version.

-TangleFoot-

If you look closely at the COA sticker, it'll tell you. Alternatively, you can press [WinKey]+[Pause/Break] on your keyboard.

jgallcash

i bought it off a mate about 3 years ago. He only had it two months. i dont know if he installed it himself or if there was a CD with it but he certainly didn't give me a CD.

Does the OEM part matter? idont even know what it stands for!

coolhandjase

You could use the Magic Jelly Bean keyfinder to make a list of the keys on your laptop: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

:money:

-TangleFoot-

jgallcash wrote: »

Does the OEM part matter? idont even know what it stands for!

It stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. Editions of Windows with this label are primarily intended to be sold with a new PC, but you can find them for sale seperately at almost any e-tailer.

jgallcash

Cheers guys.

I'll try to find a copy of XP once i've found out if i'm running home or pro.

DBAN the drive

Install XP with my product key, and hopefully Bobs your Uncle!

Does that sound ok? Thanks for all of the advice