WinXP activation question(S)

Visitor101 · 6 Mar 2007 at 23:59

Hi All

I had been planning to use my recently bought WinXP Pro SP2 OEM CD/license for a Shuttle SFF build but the over all cost at this time will be just too much.

So, I thought I would "restructure" my current Win98se & Win2K Pro dual boot with new HDDs and install the XP to that. (Build will consist of HDD1 for OS and Apps ; HDD2 for PSCS2 and other apps scratch ; HDD3 & 4 and upwards for data storage)

As a newbie to WinXP I recall reading that the activation is fussy, therefore do I need to have installed all the onboard HDDs before installing XP such that it does not think the hardware has changed when I add the data drive(s). Also, if next year (not wishing to go to Vista) I do the major new build is there a standard and MS acceptable way to use/transfer the license to the new build?

Having said that by next year Vista should be stable and more affordable but my older hardware (motherboard/graphics etc) can not last more than another couple of years and it would be a shame to throw the baby out with the bath water ~ so re using XP on another rebuild would be nice.

TIA for any insights and feedback.

gareth170 · 7 Mar 2007 at 00:11

Visitor101 said:
Hi All

I had been planning to use my recently bought WinXP Pro SP2 OEM CD/license for a Shuttle SFF build but the over all cost at this time will be just too much.

So, I thought I would "restructure" my current Win98se & Win2K Pro dual boot with new HDDs and install the XP to that. (Build will consist of HDD1 for OS and Apps ; HDD2 for PSCS2 and other apps scratch ; HDD3 & 4 and upwards for data storage)

As a newbie to WinXP I recall reading that the activation is fussy, therefore do I need to have installed all the onboard HDDs before installing XP such that it does not think the hardware has changed when I add the data drive(s). Also, if next year (not wishing to go to Vista) I do the major new build is there a standard and MS acceptable way to use/transfer the license to the new build?

Having said that by next year Vista should be stable and more affordable but my older hardware (motherboard/graphics etc) can not last more than another couple of years and it would be a shame to throw the baby out with the bath water ~ so re using XP on another rebuild would be nice.

TIA for any insights and feedback.

if u get xp pro OEM u can't transfer the license on the new computer.. u can upgrade everything but not the motherboard.. if u wanna transfer the license from computer to computer u will need to get xp pro retail..

Visitor101 · 7 Mar 2007 at 00:32

gareth170 said:
if u get xp pro OEM u can't transfer the license on the new computer.. u can upgrade everything but not the motherboard.. if u wanna transfer the license from computer to computer u will need to get xp pro retail..

Thanks for the insight.

Yes, it is OEM that I bought. Hmmm!! darn more to think about.

One of the prime reasons I thought to install XP 'now' was because I may want to test LightRoom. But first on my list is likely to be PSCS3 which AFAIK is OK on Win2k

I wonder if my best bet is to restructure with my Win2k i.e. get rid of the dual boot & think about saving some more the totally new build. Win2K is not bogged down by such activation issues is it?

Scratches head .... :confused:

Hmmm!!! is there a relaible way of turning a Win98se & Win2k Pro SP4 dual boot into a single boot Win2k Pro system?

Burnsy2023 · 7 Mar 2007 at 00:33

Garath is pretty much right, but theres loads of in depth information here on this subject in the sticky:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=32319&page=1&pp=40
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7368885&postcount=42
Burnsy

Burnsy2023 · 7 Mar 2007 at 00:38

Visitor101 said:
I wonder if my best bet is to restructure with my Win2k i.e. get rid of the dual boot & think about saving some more the totally new build. Win2K is not bogged down by such activation issues is it?

Scratches head ....

Hmmm!!! is there a relaible way of turning a Win98se & Win2k Pro SP4 dual boot into a single boot Win2k Pro system?

2000 has no activation, but I would strongly suggest upgrading to XP, it's a lot more refined OS.

Unless you change the mobo, you shouldn't worry about activation issues.

Burnsy

Visitor101 · 7 Mar 2007 at 01:17

Hi burnsy

Thanks for the link.

The mobo is an Intel 845E based one (Gigabyte GA8-IEXP rev1.2), so a little long in the tooth but it has been nice and reliable so I suppose with XP if it keeps going for another couple of years even with the odd 'card' upgrade until I can justify the expense of the new build I had originally considered then so be it!

On a related note the XP I bought came with a Vista upgrade coupon, have not read it yet so do not know whether I need to 'use' sooner rather than later at least by way of planning ahead.

Is there a trusted/reliable way to amend my dual boot to run just the Win2k Pro - I have Win98se onthe C and Win2k on D each is a separate physical drive.

gareth170 · 7 Mar 2007 at 10:18

Visitor101 said:
On a related note the XP I bought came with a Vista upgrade coupon, have not read it yet so do not know whether I need to 'use' sooner rather than later at least by way of planning ahead.

the Vista upgrade coupon is for if u have bought a new "Vista-capable PC" between October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007...

Visitor101 said:
Is there a trusted/reliable way to amend my dual boot to run just the Win2k Pro - I have Win98se onthe C and Win2k on D each is a separate physical drive.

you would need to put win2k C so that means u would need to format your drives and reinstall win2k on C