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| Thread ID: 84374 | 2007-11-03 03:26:00 | Taking Off Vista & Putting on Windows XP | metrotest (12995) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 607989 | 2007-11-03 20:39:00 | I have looked at buying OEM in the past but was unsure of the licencing, so are you saying that if you buy OEM it will not have a product key? Nope, OEM is meant to be sold with Hardware,When you Get OEM it comes in a No Fancy Packaging, The product key and thats about it, no manual etc. Shops that sell OEM without hardware are actually breaking the licence agreements that they are meant to abide to. This SIte Here (www.helpwithpcs.com) actually expalins it in plain english. If you want an in depth technical read go to Microsoft and locate there licensing on OEM |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 607990 | 2007-11-04 00:22:00 | One little hole I have found in OEM licensing is that if you have two PCs by the same manufacturer (eg Compaq) you can use the OEM disc from one to install XP on the other (don't know if it works for Vista) without having to activate or even enter a serial key! I have tested this on 2 Dell's (a Dell Inspiron 1150 (circa 2004) and a Dell OptiPlex GXa (circa 1997)) and this solution works - when XP was installed on the OptiPlex no serial was required and no activation was requested. The disc used was distributed with the 1150 - XP Home SP1. This may or may not work with other manufacturers. |
jwil1 (65) | ||
| 607991 | 2007-11-04 00:38:00 | With regards to activation for XP, I think MS are fairly relaxed about it, even for activating online... So long as you only have the license used on one PC, and it's been a while (couple of months or longer) since you last activated, it should activate fine over the internet. (PS: This info has come from experience from installing my own OEM copy of XP Pro that came with my laptop) |
Sherman (9181) | ||
| 607992 | 2007-11-04 02:17:00 | I would not run XP. You will have all kinds of problems with drivers, etc. Vista is a good, fast, stable OS. Or if you want, go buy another hard drive and see what you will run into loading XP. At least you will keep your drivers intact. d |
darroll (12090) | ||
| 607993 | 2007-11-04 02:26:00 | One little hole I have found in OEM licensing is that if you have two PCs by the same manufacturer (eg Compaq) you can use the OEM disc from one to install XP on the other (don't know if it works for Vista) without having to activate or even enter a serial key! Thats correct , if it is the same model or the components / chipsets drivers etc are the same it works fine. Thats a simple recovery Disk. The reason you don't need a Product Key is because its embedded in the install, but it only works on the recovery CD, I have seen many Compaqs all with the same product Key. An Example is if you use something like Magical Jellybean (www.magicaljellybean.com) to read the product Key, and try to install it using a standard XP CD, even though it will work and allow the install it wont activate, even its on the same Compaq PC / Hardware. Only works from the recovery CD. If you call MS they will ask for the COA on the side of the case, and change the codes. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 607994 | 2007-11-04 05:41:00 | Options for running your PC with Windows XP: 1/ Buy a second hard drive, remove the original vista drive and put it aside. Then install new drive and load windows XP (assuming you've downloaded the drivers). If it runs fine - get an external drive case for the original drive and now use this drive as a backup, or if PC allows booting from USB port use device as a second bootable drive. If you can't get Win XP with drivers to work, all is not lost - put original vista drive back in and use the new drive in external drive case as backup. |
hkeyzer (9827) | ||
| 607995 | 2007-11-04 05:53:00 | Options for running your PC with Windows XP: 1/ Buy a second hard drive, remove the original vista drive and put it aside. Then install new drive and load windows XP (assuming you've downloaded the drivers). If it runs fine - get an external drive case for the original drive and now use this drive as a backup, or if PC allows booting from USB port use device as a second bootable drive. If you can't get Win XP with drivers to work, all is not lost - put original vista drive back in and use the new drive in external drive case as backup. Damn Good idea - could save hours of work :thumbs: |
wainuitech (129) | ||
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