Non approved version of windows 7

rizla01

Hi.

Just purchased for £30 a desktop + monitor, KB Mouse. Etc so not complaining about the op sys not being legit.

Problem is the annoying pop-up so I need to rectify this.

I still have my original XP disc that came with the Dell that has recently expired.

1) If I use the number off THAT case will the Dell disc install XP on the newer PC (made by Stone).

The newer PC is 64 bit.

2) Would I expect to find both versions of XP on my disc?

3) Since XP will no longer be supported after next year should I just go and buy Windows 7 (or even 8)?

All advice greatly appreciated as usual.

HereToday

What the rest of the spec? Does this thing have a model number attached?
Perhaps you can identify the Motherboard installed.
Does it have a COA attached?

bluesnake

I was in a similar situation with a 4 year old laptop I inherited a month ago, but I do already have a spare win 7 Licence. However I opted for Cinnamon Mint - Olivia (read Ubuntu), just to test.

To be honest, while not my main laptop, was very pleasantly surprised, and worked first rate with no issues, did upgrade to the new beta (Petra) for the fun of it (just typed 2 lines and the rest was automatic). Honestly, the future windows 9 had better be stunning, because all that I need is currently in Mint and it is polished, free with no thought police licensing issues "is it a legitimate", no nags, no metro, no 'starter, home, premium, professional, ultimate, enterprise and Media Centre cash cow editions, and attracts few viruses. This is now no longer my test and has become a permanent Linux Mint machine. One killer app or game could easily make people change allegiances http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2477

If I remember correctly, the x64 version of XP was a lemon but sp may have fixed this.

x64 vs x32 is usually faster, but is more memory hungry.

I've installed from the dell cd in the past and it worked and only contained one version. The only catch is that the xp disk may need sata drivers for your system, so would be worth copying them off with any other weird hardware drivers.

rizla01

HereToday wrote: »

What the rest of the spec? Does this thing have a model number attached?
Perhaps you can identify the Motherboard installed.
Does it have a COA attached?

Hi,

Not at that machine at mo. Currently using the GF's lappy.

I didn't think all that would matter too much but can come back with the specs tomorrow.

In general terms, tho, what answers would you give.

The COA on the Stone is unreadable due to feet missing and scratches on the underside have obliterated the writing. It's an old school PC I think.

@ Bluesnake - What are the disadvantages with Ubuntu Mint?

Am I able to do everything that I do with XP? Will it run all the software in the same way?

What about drivers for the graphics, mobo Etc?

bluesnake

Whenever it have installed xp, it was always on another dell and this could be why it never asked for a s/n and used the built in one.

If you are a gamer then Linux is possibly not for you. If you are a gamer you would not be buying a machine this age

Mine old laptop is a 2GHz 2MB dual core. Windows 7 feels marginally snappier, but have not had any slowdown or stuttering on it yet on Mint. It runs vlc, xbmc, youtube firefox and flash well. Came with an open office suite, opens PDF. Wireless is similar to windows 7. Recognises my phone enough for me, but not sure how integrated it is as I just use it for transfer.

There is a windows emulator which I have no use for. I have also put on virtual box to build windows etc PCs but have not used this yet.

Do not think there is a utorrent, but has Deluge instead - among others. The media player is apparently quite good, but I use VLC for that too.

It is very windows 7-ish however some of the names have changed. The correct Nvidia drivers can be a bit hit and miss. It is much closer to windows 7, than windows 8 is in operation.

Download it and run it live from the iso to test it before installing.

There is a learning curve, but is is not huge, but some may take some googling, but nothing awkward so far. Most of it works the same way.

Will cost you a blank dvd though (unless you put it on a usb key)

Run all your software, like....? It is a Linux box and there very possibly will be equivalents - google.

Any more questions?

rizla01

Here is the specs of the PC in question.


Operating System System Model
Windows 7 Ultimate (x64) Service Pack 1 (build 7601)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United Kingdom)
Installed: 04/08/2013 16:27:23
Boot Mode: BIOS (Secure Boot not supported) Enclosure Type: Desktop
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
2.60 gigahertz Intel Pentium Dual-Core
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
2048 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (2 total)
Not hyper-threaded Bus Clock: 800 megahertz
BIOS: Intel Corp. PRG3110H.86A.0068.2009.0707.1412 07/07/2009
Drives Memory Modules c,d
160.04 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
130.77 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223B ATA Device [Optical drive]

SAMSUNG HD161GJ [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n S1X7J9BS700531, rev 1AC01113, SMART Status: Healthy 2036 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'J6H1' has 1024 MB
Slot 'J6H2' has 1024 MB
Local Drive Volumes


c: (NTFS on drive 0) 160.04 GB 130.77 GB free

Incidentalli I dont play games - Just need it for internet and photography mainly.

I will own up to playing scrabble a lot tho. (Hotspots)

HereToday

Spec is fine for Windows 7. It has an Intel® Desktop Board (DG31PR)

Specs here

You can add a cheap PCI Express x16 Graphics card if need be, for Full HD output to a Full HD screen TV for instance.

I can look into the activation status via PM.

bluesnake

I would back the existing disk up before doing anything.

Some will disagree, but personally I would update the bios to the newest version, think this is the one http://intel.globogle.com/intel-desktop-board-dg31pr-iflash-bios-update-prg3110h-86a-0071/
You may find a more open bios verson http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/3-Requests-For-Bios-Mods-Here!!!!

here is free scrabble http://sourceforge.net/projects/scrabble/?source=navbar

Take up HereToday's offer to look into the activation

HereToday

bluesnake wrote: »

I would back the existing disk up before doing anything.

Some will disagree, but personally I would update the bios to the newest version, think this is the one http://intel.globogle.com/intel-desktop-board-dg31pr-iflash-bios-update-prg3110h-86a-0071/
You may find a more open bios verson http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/3-Requests-For-Bios-Mods-Here!!!!

here is free scrabble http://sourceforge.net/projects/scrabble/?source=navbar

Take up HereToday's offer to look into the activation

The problem has long since been solved.

Usually best to leave the BIOS alone unless you have a problem.
That link certainly wouldn't help the OP, as first of all it's a Vista board and secondly, he has an Intel Motherboard.

AshleyPomeroy

rizla01 wrote: »

I still have my original XP disc that came with the Dell that has recently expired.

1) If I use the number off THAT case will the Dell disc install XP on the newer PC (made by Stone).

No, is the simple answer. It's just possible that you could use your disc to install XP on the new machine, and the use the new machine's product key to activate it, although I wouldn't bet on it. OEM licensing is hard to explain but, no.

rizla01 wrote: »

2) Would I expect to find both versions of XP on my disc?

No. Windows 7 and 8 have both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the OS on the installation disc. XP was different, the 64-bit version was a separate product (in fact it was two separate products - there was one for servers and one for home machines, neither of them very popular).

rizla01 wrote: »

3) Since XP will no longer be supported after next year should I just go and buy Windows 7 (or even 8)?

This is probably why the PC was so cheap. You essentially have three options. Buy an OEM copy of Windows 7 (about £70); buy a retail copy of Windows 8.1 (about £85); install a version of Linux, such as Linux Mint 15 or Ubuntu (free).

Alternatively gut the machine for parts, or sell it on eBay. Some sellers in this position might claim that they are unfamiliar with PC hardware and are unable to test whether Windows 7 is activated, or might simply not mention its activation status at all. That's entirely up to you.

HereToday

AshleyPomeroy wrote: »

No, is the simple answer. It's just possible that you could use your disc to install XP on the new machine, and the use the new machine's product key to activate it, although I wouldn't bet on it. OEM licensing is hard to explain but, no.



No. Windows 7 and 8 have both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the OS on the installation disc. XP was different, the 64-bit version was a separate product (in fact it was two separate products - there was one for servers and one for home machines, neither of them very popular).

This of course is quite wrong.



This is probably why the PC was so cheap. You essentially have three options. Buy an OEM copy of Windows 7 (about £70); buy a retail copy of Windows 8.1 (about £85); install a version of Linux, such as Linux Mint 15 or Ubuntu (free).

Alternatively gut the machine for parts, or sell it on eBay. Some sellers in this position might claim that they are unfamiliar with PC hardware and are unable to test whether Windows 7 is activated, or might simply not mention its activation status at all. That's entirely up to you.

You clearly missed the post before yours.

Problem solved.