new build, XP home, pro or vista?

lokiguesty · 19 Apr 2007 at 10:31

Hi all

its almost new build time so the two questions i have are,

A) can i re use the XP home edition that i brought for my old build or is it locked to those components?

B) if i need to get a new copy of windows should i get Home, Pro or Vista?

thanks all

Loki

zytok · 19 Apr 2007 at 11:01

lokiguesty said:
Hi all

its almost new build time so the two questions i have are,

A) can i re use the XP home edition that i brought for my old build or is it locked to those components?

B) if i need to get a new copy of windows should i get Home, Pro or Vista?

thanks all

Loki

Was your old XP Home an OEM? If so, you can't legally install it on a new build. It it was a retail copy you can.

If you need to buy a new one, which one you buy depends really on what you want to do. If you're a gamer, Vista still has issues with incompatibility with a few titles and general slower performance than XP. Having said that, it is likely that the main issues are drivers and if you want to use DX10 in a few months time then you'll have to use Vista.

You then need to decide whether you buy OEM which will be locked to your new build or retail which won't.

InsomniaCalls · 19 Apr 2007 at 11:02

Depends if the XP Home is OEM or Retail.
If it's OEM it's likely tied to your old motherboard.
If it's retail you can install it again.

If you need to buy a new one I'd go for Vista Home Premium.
Can't see anything about Ultimate you can't get with free apps elsewhere.

Glass · 19 Apr 2007 at 14:07

InsomniaCalls said:
Depends if the XP Home is OEM or Retail.
If it's OEM it's likely tied to your old motherboard.
If it's retail you can install it again.

If you need to buy a new one I'd go for Vista Home Premium.
Can't see anything about Ultimate you can't get with free apps elsewhere.

I've used an OEM copy from a retail PC on a new build before (old machine was going in the skip). Called Micosoft up to activate. I kept the sticker from the old PC and got the CD key from the reg. They asked me a few questions, where was the PC purchaed from etc then gave me a new activation code

zytok · 19 Apr 2007 at 14:29

Glass said:
I've used an OEM copy from a retail PC on a new build before (old machine was going in the skip). Called Micosoft up to activate. I kept the sticker from the old PC and got the CD key from the reg. They asked me a few questions, where was the PC purchaed from etc then gave me a new activation code

cough, cough..... :rolleyes:

snowdog · 19 Apr 2007 at 14:31

lokiguesty said:
Hi all

its almost new build time so the two questions i have are,

A) can i re use the XP home edition that i brought for my old build or is it locked to those components?

B) if i need to get a new copy of windows should i get Home, Pro or Vista?

thanks all

Loki

a: Can with retail, also with oem (if you speak kindly to microsoft on the telephone) but then you're illegal, so I wouldn't recommend this.
b: Xp pro imo

Avalon · 19 Apr 2007 at 14:53

Having spoken to a human at MS activations and explained that a friends board had died and i'd replaced it with a newer board while re-using the other hardware they were happy enough to give him another activation code. It was the same when one of the works Toshiba laptops went belly up, I had to canibalise the main board form one with a dead screen/HD short term and again they were happy to issue a new activation. My understanding has been that if you replace the PC as a whole you need a new licence unless it's Retail, hardware failure seems to be tollerated with a continuation but i'd not like to push the issue with multiple failures.

bledd · 19 Apr 2007 at 16:26

no point in getting pro if you're already on home and don't miss the pro features, remote desktop is the only biggie really (and networking security features)

i've go for vista home basic or home premium

gareth170 · 19 Apr 2007 at 19:10

Glass said:
I've used an OEM copy from a retail PC on a new build before (old machine was going in the skip). Called Micosoft up to activate. I kept the sticker from the old PC and got the CD key from the reg. They asked me a few questions, where was the PC purchaed from etc then gave me a new activation code

why tell everybody this? its illegal. but your porting it on a site where anyone could see.. if you want to do illegal stuff u should keep that to yourself.

GraemeUK · 19 Apr 2007 at 22:07

gareth170 said:
why tell everybody this? its illegal. but your porting it on a site where anyone could see.. if you want to do illegal stuff u should keep that to yourself.

What he is doing is not illegal. He is breaking the OEM user agreement. It is not against the law, i.e. not illegal.

TC1 · 20 Apr 2007 at 09:22

gareth170 said:
why tell everybody this? its illegal. but your porting it on a site where anyone could see.. if you want to do illegal stuff u should keep that to yourself.

It is not illegal. I have done it too. Microsoft sorted it for me when i had to ring them up. They make up the rules etc. So they can bend them if they want!

zytok · 20 Apr 2007 at 09:24

illegal might be a tad strong but against the rules definitely. There are always ways of bending rules and regs but I agree that you shouldn't really be discussiing them here.

GraemeUK · 20 Apr 2007 at 22:38

Glass · 1 May 2007 at 22:08

looks like Bill might be coming rounds to slap me on the wrist, not "the bill"