Do I buy the full XP software or Upgrade?

theboylard

sco0ter wrote:

And in post 10 you said
"Question - can you wire a plug?
If so you are over qualified to build a pc or upgrade one!!!!"

Werent you refering to the person being over qualified to be a system builder?????

And just to clear things up... Here is a link to OEM license question being asked..

and I quote

Q Can I buy OEM Windows XP software with a mouse?
A No, OEM desktop software must be pre-installed on a fully assembled PC

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/licensing/faq/default.mspx#EBJAC

Also

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/licensing/introduction/hometools/default.mspx

Must come on preinstalled system if you are refering to the NON system builder License

Could you please post a link to your "Microsoft's OEM Builder FAQs" I can find no passage on Microsoft.com that says anything like what you quoted..

Ok, in reverse order or your queries...

From the horse's mouth:

http://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/product_guide_2003_q2/osystem/WinXPHome.htm and scroll to the bottom:

Licensing terms
System Builders must distribute each desktop operating system unit with either a fully assembled computer system or a nonperipheral computer hardware component.

Can we move on now? Because from your point of view I can name over 50 companies who are selling Microsoft software illegally, and as Microsoft operate a bounty scheme for illegal/grey suppliers then you'll be quids in!!!

Secondly, I wish you'd read the thread. My post #10 was in response to beachbeth's comment:

I wish I knew how to do this. I was going to avoid the OEM software because Im not sure I would know how to fit the hardware. It will be easier to just buy the full Xp software, even though it will cost more.

I would happily advise anyone to build their own pc. If you want to know how pc's work, and the vagaries of windows, then self-build is the way to go. It is not difficult, it is certainly not rocket science and it gives those who do try building a huge boost in their understanding of all things pc. Invariably it leads on to further development and, in my opinion, a better awareness of what to do when things go wrong.

Anybody can be a system builder. Just register as a partner with Microsoft, select a couple of "correct" answers in your company profile and robert's your father's brother. Microsoft even make it easy when they supply you with over £16000 worth of software for just £200/year!!!!

Now that's dealt with, let's get back to the original poster and others who've read the thread:

Beachbeth, find your preferred supplier of software (my suggestions would be aria as posted previously or maybe https://www.ebuyer.co.uk , but I like aria so they'd get my business in your position).
Shout here on the board when you get the software (with the ubiquitious "nonperipheral computer hardware component") and there's many folk here who'll happily walk you through the software install - it's not at all difficult and generally requires a couple of hours, but that's not dedicated time, so you can do something interesting whilst windows does it's thang.

Cheers all

hapless

Phantom_Flan_Flinger

I'm with "theboylard" above.

This is a moneysaving site and you're not going to gain anything by buying over the odds for the full package.

When you have the CD, you put it in the comp for booting up and away you go. All you do is follow the instructions.

Obviously there's additional time for downloading drivers and other software that you require, but what version of XP you have isn't going to make it easier or faster.

The only slight hiccup you may have is if your comp isn't set to boot from the CD/DVD drive, but we could help you out quickly with that and again, it's not going to matter whether you have the full or OEM of XP.

everythingblogcast

Check ebay out, if its wrong Microsoft will sort it out for you. But get one that has a free upgrade to Vista. This means you get the free upgrade (pay for postage) and if you deside to upgrade to vista you can.

beachbeth

everythingblogcast wrote:

Check ebay out, if its wrong Microsoft will sort it out for you. But get one that has a free upgrade to Vista. This means you get the free upgrade (pay for postage) and if you deside to upgrade to vista you can.

I think you have to have a computer with a core duo processor to be able to use Vista? Well this computer hasn't got that so theres no point having a Vista upgrade really.

I know how to set my computer to boot up from cd so do I just put the cd in, boot from it and then just follow the instructions it gives me? It will ask if I want to delete partitions and things I think? This is where Im not quite sure and once I get to this point I won't be able to come online to ask!

Phantom_Flan_Flinger

beachbeth wrote:

It will ask if I want to delete partitions and things I think? This is where Im not quite sure and once I get to this point I won't be able to come online to ask!

Yes that's it. Because you're doing a format, it will ask to delete the partitions. Just press yes. There's nothing really technical in the install.

For me, apart from the XP software, the most important thing is to have the drivers for your router/modem to hand. Once they're in and you're connected to the net, you can get all the help, drivers, programs you need.

theboylard

Hi beachbeth,

Basically get the software from wherever you feel comfortable. Whilst your waiting for it to be delivered, you can do some research on the pc that you've inherited.

Every piece of hardware usually requires drivers - instructions that windows needs to tell windows how to use that item of hardware. These may be a huge instruction set (think Printers, especially multifunction ones) or it may be a tiny file that doesn't appear to do anything, but under the bonnet windows now understands what to send and receive to get that device to do what you want.

Windows will usually work with most things using default drivers, but they may not be the best settings for that particular device, so it might be worthwhile asking your friend who donated the box if he can tell you what's in the box - saves a bunch of time later.

You're going to have to do some legwork, but in the long run it's better as you'll
a) Know what's inside the pc, which gives an indication of how far you can stretch it, and directly from this info you can decide the best bits to upgrade for the best bang/buck ratio and
b) Increase your knowledge generally.

Vista's requirements do not state that you actually need a core duo, but like all things Microsoft the necessary hardware to get the best out of Vista is going to be beyond the capability of the system for your daughter.

From my point of view, Vista offers me nothing that I haven't already got and in fact would likely make my life harder so you won't find me using Vista for my personal needs.
The bits that would have made Vista interesting got dropped because of the delays in releasing Vista (remember, it is nearly 3 years late!!!) and I believe some people are going to be quite upset at some of the new "features" within Vista!

So I'd suggest you just focus on XP for now, get the software then when you get it just have a read of here for a semi illustrated guide to installing windows:
http://tweakhound.com/xp/installxp/installXP1.htm
It doesn't cover the deleting of existing partitions, but thats' no real biggie.

hapless

ollyshaw

How about trying legit free software?

https://www.ubuntu.com

Olly

everythingblogcast

beachbeth wrote:

I think you have to have a computer with a core duo processor to be able to use Vista? Well this computer hasn't got that so theres no point having a Vista upgrade really.

I know how to set my computer to boot up from cd so do I just put the cd in, boot from it and then just follow the instructions it gives me? It will ask if I want to delete partitions and things I think? This is where Im not quite sure and once I get to this point I won't be able to come online to ask!

You can run vista on non core duo. I beta tested the betas and the RC on different machine and one of them was a Pentium 4 2.0GHz normal one NOT HT. And it worked well. However if the pc is getting out dated you might as well have both xp and vista to install to a new pc.

beachbeth

New computer is 900 Megahertz AMD Duron, 128 kilobyte primary memory cache, 64 kilobyte secondary memory cache. 122.93 gigabytes usable hard drive capacity. I don't think this is suitable for Vista.

everythingblogcast

nope but if you are getting vista for free (postage has to be paid £10) then you could sell that or when you update your system you have vista. what about the old computer