Installing XP on a Vista Computer

Little_John

wazza wrote: »

The XP disc came with the PC. Friend built it for her and supplied a XP disc as well unlike PCWorld etc where they install the XP software and don't supply you with the disc.

It depends on the type of XP that came with the PC, it is possible to buy OEM software as long as you purchase hardware. I can buy a new hard drive and an OEM Windows XP and it is legal. The fact that some PC manufacturers don't supply a disk means very little other than reinstalling with out it is difficult, it is all about the licence OEM or retail OEM is a lot cheaper and has a lot of restrictions on it like it dies with the PC.

wazza wrote: »

True. As far as i know you are only allowed to install it on one computer. If you were to upgrade the computer or buy another computer you can install it on that one as long as the old computer has the xp software removed.

An OEM license can only be installed on 1 computer EVER not uninstall/wipe of the drive make the licence transferable. A retail version again can only be installed on a single machine at a time but it can be transfered to another machine if that machine is wiped or taken out of service.

As Browntoa said, XP has an activation process where it takes a fingerprint of your PC like the CPU unique identifier and motherboard type etc and produces a key for that machine and registers the software against that machine. if the PC has 4 hardware changes made it needs to activate again most of the time it will activate again no problem but if it finds none of the machine is the same on an OEM version it refuses and you are made to contact Microsoft for an activation code where they inform you you need to pay them for a new licence clever bods at Microsoft. if you have a retail version they reset the key and give you a code to activate windows.

Ohh and the person who suggested using vista, you must not have tried to delete any files yet? yes Microsoft screwed up one of the simple tasks of an operating system delete, move and copying of files.:T

Blacksheep1979

Other issues you may come across (other than the oem problem) is that you may be lacking/find it hard to get all the drivers for the new computer.