Windows XP Home edit. New User

Hello: I just got a comp with XP pre-installed. The
first time I turned it on it asked me for the product
number before I could continue. The documentation
indicates this software is for one comp only. However, I
have a question: What if this comp has a problem, breaks
down totally or needs a new hard drive, or anything
requiring XP to be reinstalled? If I get a new comp/hard
drive does that mean this copy of XP is void and I have to
buy a new one with every new comp?

I am a home user and have another comp running Win 98 2nd
edit. Since I am a home user rather than a business with
many comps, why can't I install this on the other comp? I
checked with the compatibility website and it said this
version is compatible to be upgraded to XP. But my
software tells me it is not. Then it informs me I need to
install an "upgrade", downloads it, but still says it is
incompatible and cannot run setup.

So is XP just expensive one-use, "bic" throwaway
software? Thank God I still have the OEM copy of my 98
2ed, which can be used unlimited times.

If xp is preinstalled then it came with a recovery cd or two,not
microsoft xp cd.The recovery cd is configured to that specific boar
model,no other can use it.You can replace just about anything in th
computer w/o a problem,the mb replacement is where thier migh
be a problem but since you have a oem version of xp,that problem woul
exist with the mfg.,not microsoft.

Yes, teh peopel who built this led me to believe I was
getting the full software, but it apparently is not. How
can I get a full copy? Pay hundreds more? Then wuldn't
I have to uninstall their version first os it would work
with this motherboard?

You seem to be saying the only time I'd have a problem is
if the Motherboard needed replacing, but what if the hard
drive goes bad, loses all data? Then I would be stuck
with no operating system and no disc with which to
replace it. I

Also, I've heard that when you use a "restore disc" you
lose all your favorites and other files. It just takes
your comp back to like when you first got it. Isn't this
true?

In any event, this sucks. I have always ben able to use
my WIn 98 2 disc to restore lost/corrupt files and fix
any problems I had. Now I wont be able to do this. Once
I have problems it will have to go back to those people,
and they are in another city.

I'm tempted to just sell this one and go back to my old
one, except it was the govt. that had a contractor build
this one for me, and it has the warranty through them and
the govt logo in it. If I cnage anything in hter, no
warranty. If it rey to sell it, it has govt al through
it. Damn!

I recently upgraded the memory, installed a2nd hard
drive, and new motherboard on my old comp, but kept the
98-s because an old tech I used to know told me it was
the last good OS that MS made. Now I know why.


>-----Original Message-----
> If xp is preinstalled then it came with a recovery cd
or two,not a
> microsoft xp cd.The recovery cd is configured to that
specific board
> model,no other can use it.You can replace just about
anything in the
> computer w/o a problem,the mb replacement is where
thier might
> be a problem but since you have a oem version of
xp,that problem would
> exist with the mfg.,not microsoft.
>.
>