installing OEM XP on an old PC

[Guest]

Wassup People,

I just bought a second hand PC which came with an xp but after a month, the
XP stopped responding, turned out my hard drive had problems. However, when i
bought the pc it didnt come with an XP CD, not even any sticker with product
key.

After looking at the ebay product ID again, the pc does not include XP. So
this means i have to get a new XP CD.

Question:
Can I install a new OEM XP on an old PC. What if the old PC is already
registered with an existing OEM?

 

[Alias]

Wassup People,

I just bought a second hand PC which came with an xp but after a month, the
XP stopped responding, turned out my hard drive had problems. However, when i
bought the pc it didnt come with an XP CD, not even any sticker with product
key.

After looking at the ebay product ID again, the pc does not include XP. So
this means i have to get a new XP CD.

Question:
Can I install a new OEM XP on an old PC. What if the old PC is already
registered with an existing OEM?

Yes, you can do it and what was on it before will have no effect. I just
installed an OEM XP Pro on an old ASUS with an AMD 800 Mhz and 512 of
PC-100 RAM. It activated and passed the genuine test on Windows Update
no problem.

Alias

 

[Guest]

It sounds like the operating system was never validated so it expired. The
seller should have sent you the code. There is a small utility program named
jelly beans that you can use to find the key code for your software. Go to
jellybean.com and down load it free. Then extract the file to a floppy disk.
Then just pop it in and double click on it and it will show you the key
code. Copy it exactly and type it in when the key code screen appears.

 

[Guest]

it stopped working because the hdd has damages on it. corrupting certain
system files. the pc i bought does not come with xp unfortunately, he might
have installed a pirated copy just to show it works.

I called him up n he said i need to get my own xp cd.

According to Alias:
I can install XP OEM on an old PC motherboard that might have a previous OEM

 

[Alias]

it stopped working because the hdd has damages on it. corrupting certain
system files. the pc i bought does not come with xp unfortunately, he might
have installed a pirated copy just to show it works.

I called him up n he said i need to get my own xp cd.

According to Alias:
I can install XP OEM on an old PC motherboard that might have a previous OEM
on it. Can anyone validate this?

Motherboards cannot have an operating system on them, only hard drives
can. I assume you mean a *generic* OEM, not one to be used on a Dell,
HP, etc. If it's one from Dell, HP, etc., no, it won't work.

Alias

 

[Daave]

According to Alias:
I can install XP OEM on an old PC motherboard that might have a
previous OEM on it. Can anyone validate this?

Alias is correct. If you purchase the license to use XP, you may install
the OS on your PC (but since it's an OEM version, you may not transfer
it to another PC because an OEM disk is permanently tied to the PC it is
installed on). You will need to purchase a *generic* OEM XP disk. Then
follow the instructions for a *clean install* at:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Make sure you always know where your key is!

If you want to be able to eventually use your XP disk on another
machine, you should then purchase the retail version. Note that the
license does *not* entitle to you to install it on more than one PC *at
any given time*. If you already own a license and disk for 98SE, ME, or
2000, then an upgrade retail version of XP will save you some money over
the full version.

 

[Daave]

Momo wrote:

Motherboards cannot have an operating system on them, only hard drives
can.

LOL !

I read that so quickly that my brain saw "PC motherboard" as hard drive!

 

[Bob I]

LOL !

I read that so quickly that my brain saw "PC motherboard" as hard drive!

Guess Alias didn't know about ROM-Basic in the old IBM PC's! Operating
system on a motherboard.

 

[Guest]

LOL...i really need to choose my words correctly.

From what i understand, each OEM key will be assigned to a specific
motherboard. Thats how u cant install the same OEM OS on different PCs. If u
broke ur HD, u still can install the same OEM OS on a new HD but u still need
the same motherboard as before. <----according to microsoft OEM rules if i
remembered.


Im gonna buy a new OEM XP Home from the net, but im worried i wont be able
to validate it on my PC because my old motherboard has a different OEM key
assigned to it if that is how it works.
Im gettin an NEW OEM XP, i dont think its generic, it isnt installed
previously.


Alias, and everyone who replied, u guys are a lot of help, and u guys have
probably answered the question...sorry for being a lil daft, its just kind of
a big commitment to buy an original XP home for me.

 

[Alias]

Guess Alias didn't know about ROM-Basic in the old IBM PC's! Operating
system on a motherboard.

The OP was talking about XP, not abacuses ;-)

Alias

 

[Alias]

LOL...i really need to choose my words correctly.

From what i understand, each OEM key will be assigned to a specific
motherboard. Thats how u cant install the same OEM OS on different PCs. If u
broke ur HD, u still can install the same OEM OS on a new HD but u still need
the same motherboard as before. <----according to microsoft OEM rules if i
remembered.

You remember incorrectly. I have replaced my motherboard three times on
one of my machines and twice on another, both running a generic OEM
version of XP and both activated on line and were deemed genuine on
Windows Update.

Im gonna buy a new OEM XP Home from the net, but im worried i wont be able
to validate it on my PC because my old motherboard has a different OEM key
assigned to it if that is how it works.

Not relevant. The new OEM will report a hash for the first time in its
licensing life and will activate and be deemed genuine no problem.

Im gettin an NEW OEM XP, i dont think its generic, it isnt installed
previously.

Where are you getting it from?

Perusing NewEgg's web site, it appears that in order to buy a generic
OEM XP, one now has to have a receipt showing the purchase of a CPU,
motherboard, hard drive and RAM. If you're in the USA, you may not be
able to buy a generic OEM XP without those components or proof that you
purchased those components with a "recent" (whatever that means) receipt
or receipts. So, if you can find a store that will sell you one, get it
while you can An alternative would be to buy an upgrade retail
version if you have Win 98 or 2000 CD laying around.

Alias, and everyone who replied, u guys are a lot of help, and u guys have
probably answered the question...sorry for being a lil daft, its just kind of
a big commitment to buy an original XP home for me.

You're welcome and good luck!

Alias

 

[Daave]

Im gonna buy a new OEM XP Home from the net, but im worried i wont be
able to validate it on my PC because my old motherboard has a
different OEM key assigned to it if that is how it works.
Im gettin an NEW OEM XP, i dont think its generic, it isnt installed
previously.

Make sure you buy from a reputable online store. The last thing you want
is a pirated, and thus non-valid, version of XP.

If you do a clean install, it doesn't matter if you install it on a
newly built PC which had never had any OS ever installed or on a
five-year old machine which used to have another version of XP (even a
non-legitimate one). When you perform a clean install, you're formatting
the hard drive first... so you have a blank slate, as it were. The
motherboard isn't involved at all. (It's only involved when a royalty
OEM installs an image on the hard drive, which ties the OS to that
particular PC, i.e., the motherboard. This is called "BIOS-locked.")

Did you already purchase the XP installation disk? I'm unclear on this.
If so, what exactly is it? (You stated, "i dont think its generic.") You
really need to make sure it's a *generic* OEM disk!!! If you purchase
someone's old branded OEM disk, you'll almost surely be out of luck.

Just want to clear some other things up, Momo...

In other posts, you indicated:

I just bought a second hand PC which came with an xp but after a
month, the XP stopped responding, turned out my hard drive had
problems. However, when i bought the pc it didnt come with an XP
CD, not even any sticker with product key.
and

it stopped working because the hdd has damages on it. corrupting
certain system files. the pc i bought does not come with xp
unfortunately, he might have installed a pirated copy just to show it
works.

I called him up n he said i need to get my own xp cd.

What make and model is this second-hand PC?

What version of XP did it come with? What Service Pack?

If it's a royalty OEM PC (like Dell, for instance), I'm sure it came
with a licensed copy of XP. The manufacturer of the PC should be able to
provide you with a means of restoring the PC to its original state. The
again, if the hard drive is shot, this complicates matters. And you
stated that you never received a COA with product key. So, if your PC
was built by an independent system builder and by the time you received
it, didn't have a valid OS, then you need to purchase either a retail or
generic OEM XP installation disk to be above board.

If the data on your hard drive is still salvageable, and if you can
obtain your product key using Belarc Advisor, Magical Jellybean Finder,
etc., and if you can obtain (no need to purchase) a generic OEM XP
installation disk, you *should* be able to perform a clean install.* And
assuming this key is a valid one (and I wonder...), you should be fine.

Otherwise purchase a generic OEM disk (or perhaps an upgrade disk as
long as you have a qualifying disk such as 98SE, ME, or 2000). A full
retail XP is an option, but keep in mind it's pricier. But at least
you'd be able to use it down the road on any other PC and you could
always purchase a Vista upgrade for it as well.

* http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Also see:
http://www.tek-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=4004

 

[Rock]

LOL...i really need to choose my words correctly.

From what i understand, each OEM key will be assigned to a specific
motherboard. Thats how u cant install the same OEM OS on different PCs. If
u
broke ur HD, u still can install the same OEM OS on a new HD but u still
need
the same motherboard as before. <----according to microsoft OEM rules if i
remembered.


Im gonna buy a new OEM XP Home from the net, but im worried i wont be able
to validate it on my PC because my old motherboard has a different OEM key
assigned to it if that is how it works.
Im gettin an NEW OEM XP, i dont think its generic, it isnt installed
previously.


Alias, and everyone who replied, u guys are a lot of help, and u guys have
probably answered the question...sorry for being a lil daft, its just kind
of
a big commitment to buy an original XP home for me.

XP comes in several versions - retail which can be moved to a new computer
if it's first uninstalled from the current system, generic OEM and branded
OEM. Branded OEMs are tied to the motherboard in a method called BIOS
locking, so it can only be installed on a motherboard from that
manufacturer. Generic OEM is not tied to a motherboard. And it does not
matter if a motherboard had a different XP installed on it. What matters,
in an OEM version, is that it cannot by the license be moved to a different
system. With a generic OEM XP there is nothing technically to prevent that.
You have to call to activate and basically be deceptive, but it can be done.
So if you purchase a new, generic OEM copy, not a branded one, then it
should install and activate just fine. Do not buy OEM on Ebay. You have no
way of knowing that product key hasn't been used on another system. Buy
from a reputable on line retailer like Newegg.com.

 

[Daave]

Perusing NewEgg's web site, it appears that in order to buy a generic
OEM XP, one now has to have a receipt showing the purchase of a CPU,
motherboard, hard drive and RAM. If you're in the USA, you may not be
able to buy a generic OEM XP without those components or proof that
you purchased those components with a "recent" (whatever that means)
receipt or receipts. So, if you can find a store that will sell you one, get
it while you can

Yes, I just saw this, too:

Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM

Disclaimer: Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing
the purchase of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The
components can be on multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one
receipt nor on the same receipt as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003
that you purchased.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000350368 1179212716&name=Professional
______________________________________________

The word "recent" is rather vague, isn't it?

I don't quite get this. If a person wants to *pay money* for a *valid*
OS license, why should it matter how old the PC is? Suppose I come
across a PC which was built five years ago, but for whatever reason
never had an OS installed on it (maybe it had just been purchased by an
elderly person who had soon after died; then his widow decided to give
it to me as a gift). Shouldn't I still have the right to purchase an OEM
XP license/disk? Or suppose I still have a license (and have the COA and
know the product key) but the PC manufacturer is now out of business and
I need to obtain an OEM installation disk. Even though it's not
necessary (I know I can borrow this type of disk in this situation), why
can't I purchase the disk?

I guess the reason is so people like Momo will be forced to buy the
costlier Retail version.

 

[Alias]

Yes, I just saw this, too:

Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM

Disclaimer: Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing
the purchase of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The
components can be on multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one
receipt nor on the same receipt as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003
that you purchased.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000350368 1179212716&name=Professional
______________________________________________

The word "recent" is rather vague, isn't it?

I don't quite get this. If a person wants to *pay money* for a *valid*
OS license, why should it matter how old the PC is? Suppose I come
across a PC which was built five years ago, but for whatever reason
never had an OS installed on it (maybe it had just been purchased by an
elderly person who had soon after died; then his widow decided to give
it to me as a gift). Shouldn't I still have the right to purchase an OEM
XP license/disk? Or suppose I still have a license (and have the COA and
know the product key) but the PC manufacturer is now out of business and
I need to obtain an OEM installation disk. Even though it's not
necessary (I know I can borrow this type of disk in this situation), why
can't I purchase the disk?

I guess the reason is so people like Momo will be forced to buy the
costlier Retail version.

I checked around and in Spain, you can still buy a generic OEM XP
without hardware or receipt(s) so it looks like it's a USA thing.

Alias

 

[Guest]

What make and model is this second-hand PC?
no particular brand, self built system i guess

What version of XP did it come with? What Service Pack?

i think it was home, sp2

the description of the item did not include windows XP, so im guessing it
was a pirated copy. If i remembered correctly it did not allow certain
windows update.

 

[Daave]

no particular brand, self built system i guess

i think it was home, sp2

the description of the item did not include windows XP, so im
guessing it was a pirated copy. If i remembered correctly it did not
allow certain windows update.

Okay, that leaves you with either Retail or OEM (assuming you don't have
a qualifying OS disk such as 98, ME, 2000).

Some ideas:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116169
(OEM, $94.98, incl. shipping, but see about the provision of having a
receipt per Alias)

http://www.viosoftware.com/Windows+....html?osCsid=93fd14223f7a06c5ec127334fbe1da6e
(OEM, $87.99, inc. shipping)

http://www.9software.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=N09-00984&Click=5673
(Retail, $137.00, inc. shipping)