? Upgrade to XP requirements

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

Howdy all...

My hd died on a machine that I had 98se on. The machine is capable of
running XP. Can I use the 98se CD as a qualifying product for Upgrade XP Pro
(or Home) *without* installing 98se on it? Like you can with most ms
programs, just insert the CD when requested ???

Tnx.

r.

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Rob

That is what you do..

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Howdy all...

My hd died on a machine that I had 98se on. The machine is capable of
running XP. Can I use the 98se CD as a qualifying product for Upgrade XP Pro
(or Home) *without* installing 98se on it? Like you can with most ms
programs, just insert the CD when requested ???

Tnx.

r.

Yes, it's quite possible to perform a clean installation using the
Upgrade CD, provided you have the true installation CD for the earlier OS.

Simply boot from the WinXP Upgrade CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. The Upgrade CD checks to see if a qualifying OS
is installed, and, if it finds none, it asks you to insert the
installation media (CD) of that OS. Unfortunately, an OEM
"Recovery/Restore" CD will not work for this purpose; you must have a
true installation CD, complete with the "\Win98" folder and *.cab
files, or the "\i386" folder of WinNT/2K.

Alternatively, or especially if all you have is an OEM Recovery CD
for the earlier OS, you can even start the upgrade from within the
current Win98/Me/NT/2K installation, and still elect to perform a
clean installation, to include formatting the drive. In this case,
there's no further request for the qualifying OS's installation CD,
because the installation routing "remembers" that you started from
within the qualifying OS. This process is more time-consuming, but
you get the same results: a clean installation of WinXP.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

Cool, thanks!

One more noob question...I see OEM XP for about 50 bucks less then the
retail version (on Newegg), I thought OEM versions were tied to a specific
machine??


| Rob
|
| That is what you do..
|
| --
| Mike Hall
| MVP - Windows Shell/User
|
|
| | > Howdy all...
| >
| > My hd died on a machine that I had 98se on. The machine is capable of
| > running XP. Can I use the 98se CD as a qualifying product for Upgrade XP
| > Pro
| > (or Home) *without* installing 98se on it? Like you can with most ms
| > programs, just insert the CD when requested ???
| >
| > Tnx.
| >
| > r.
| >
| >
|
|

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

Thanks Bruce.

No, I have full version...and its not OEM...but it is very dusty

Thanks for your help, it will save my college kid a few bucks.

Rob


| Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
| > Howdy all...
| >
| > My hd died on a machine that I had 98se on. The machine is capable of
| > running XP. Can I use the 98se CD as a qualifying product for Upgrade XP
Pro
| > (or Home) *without* installing 98se on it? Like you can with most ms
| > programs, just insert the CD when requested ???
| >
| > Tnx.
| >
| > r.
| >
| >
|
|
| Yes, it's quite possible to perform a clean installation using the
| Upgrade CD, provided you have the true installation CD for the earlier OS.
|
| Simply boot from the WinXP Upgrade CD. You'll be offered the
| opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
| installation process. The Upgrade CD checks to see if a qualifying OS
| is installed, and, if it finds none, it asks you to insert the
| installation media (CD) of that OS. Unfortunately, an OEM
| "Recovery/Restore" CD will not work for this purpose; you must have a
| true installation CD, complete with the "\Win98" folder and *.cab
| files, or the "\i386" folder of WinNT/2K.
|
| Alternatively, or especially if all you have is an OEM Recovery CD
| for the earlier OS, you can even start the upgrade from within the
| current Win98/Me/NT/2K installation, and still elect to perform a
| clean installation, to include formatting the drive. In this case,
| there's no further request for the qualifying OS's installation CD,
| because the installation routing "remembers" that you started from
| within the qualifying OS. This process is more time-consuming, but
| you get the same results: a clean installation of WinXP.
|
|
| --
|
| Bruce Chambers
|
| Help us help you:
|
|
|
| You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
| both at once. - RAH

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:

One more noob question...I see OEM XP for about 50 bucks less then the
retail version (on Newegg), I thought OEM versions were tied to a
specific machine??

There are two kinds of OEM versions:

1. Those that come with computers sold by major OEMS (Dell, Gateway, etc.)
These are usually tied to specific machines, and are also often customized
for the specific machines.

2. Generic OEM versions. These are used by small custom builders to install
Windows on computers they build and . They are also widely available for
sale to individuals; there is (or at least was) a requirement to but them
only with qualifying hardware--originally a computer, motherboard, or hard
drive, but these days almost any piece of hardware qualifies, even if the
requirement even still exists. The generic OEM version contains exactly the
same software as the retail version.

Be aware that although it costs less than a retail version, the reason is
that it comes with certain restrictions:

1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed on.
It can never by itself legally be moved to another computer, sold, or given
away.

2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.

3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them with
a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your OEM; that
support may range anywhere between good and non-existent. Or you can get
support elsewhere, such as in these newsgroups.

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

Ok that's cool. I've only called MS 1x in 10 years anyway...its faster and
better to get help on the ngs.

Thanks a bunch.

Rob


| Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
|
|
| > One more noob question...I see OEM XP for about 50 bucks less then the
| > retail version (on Newegg), I thought OEM versions were tied to a
| > specific machine??
|
|
| There are two kinds of OEM versions:
|
| 1. Those that come with computers sold by major OEMS (Dell, Gateway, etc.)
| These are usually tied to specific machines, and are also often customized
| for the specific machines.
|
| 2. Generic OEM versions. These are used by small custom builders to
install
| Windows on computers they build and . They are also widely available for
| sale to individuals; there is (or at least was) a requirement to but them
| only with qualifying hardware--originally a computer, motherboard, or hard
| drive, but these days almost any piece of hardware qualifies, even if the
| requirement even still exists. The generic OEM version contains exactly
the
| same software as the retail version.
|
| Be aware that although it costs less than a retail version, the reason is
| that it comes with certain restrictions:
|
| 1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed
on.
| It can never by itself legally be moved to another computer, sold, or
given
| away.
|
| 2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.
|
| 3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them
with
| a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your OEM; that
| support may range anywhere between good and non-existent. Or you can get
| support elsewhere, such as in these newsgroups.
|
| --
| Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
| Please reply to the newsgroup
|
|

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ok that's cool. I've only called MS 1x in 10 years anyway...its
faster and better to get help on the ngs.

Thanks a bunch.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Thanks Bruce.

No, I have full version...and its not OEM...but it is very dusty

Thanks for your help, it will save my college kid a few bucks.

Rob

You're welcome.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Cool, thanks!

One more noob question...I see OEM XP for about 50 bucks less then the
retail version (on Newegg), I thought OEM versions were tied to a specific
machine??

That's true, once installed.

There are some very important reasons that an OEM license costs so
much less than a retail license. OEM licenses are very limited:

1) OEM versions must be sold with a piece of non-peripheral
hardware (normally a motherboard or hard drive, if not an entire PC,
although Microsoft has greatly relaxed the hardware criteria for WinXP)
and are _permanently_ bound to the first PC on which they are installed.
An OEM license, once installed, is not legally transferable to another
computer under any circumstances. This is the main reason some people
avoid OEM versions; if the PC dies or is otherwise disposed of (even
stolen), you cannot re-use your OEM license on a new PC. The only
legitimate way to transfer the ownership of an OEM license is to
transfer ownership of the entire PC.

2) Microsoft provides no free support for OEM versions. If you
have any problems that require outside assistance, your only recourse is
to contact the manufacturer/builder of the PC or the vendor of the OEM
license. This would include such issues as lost a Product Key or
replacing damaged installation media. (Microsoft does make allowances
for those instances when you can prove that the OEM has gone out of
business.) This doesn't mean that you can't download patches and
service packs from Microsoft -- just no free telephone or email support
for problems with the OS.

3) An OEM CD cannot be used to perform an upgrade of an earlier
OS, as it was designed to be installed _only_ upon an empty hard drive.
It can still be used to perform a repair installation (a.k.a. an
in-place upgrade) of an existing WinXP installation.

4) If the OEM CD was designed by a specific manufacturer, such as
eMachines, Sony, Dell, Gateway, etc., it will most likely only install
on the same brand of PC, as an additional anti-piracy feature. Further,
such CDs are severely customized to contain only the minimum of device
drivers, and a lot of extra nonsense, that the manufacturer feels
necessary for the specific model of PC for which the CD was designed.
(To be honest, such CDs should _not_ be available on the open market;
but, if you're shopping someplace on-line like eBay, swap meets, or
computer fairs, there's often no telling what you're buying until it's
too late.) The "generic" OEM CDs, such as are manufactured by Microsoft
and sold to small systems builders, don't have this particular problem,
though, and are pretty much the same as their retail counterparts, apart
from the licensing, support, and upgrading restrictions.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

cool...im still within the rules on those points and suggestions

thanks!


| Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
| > Cool, thanks!
| >
| > One more noob question...I see OEM XP for about 50 bucks less then the
| > retail version (on Newegg), I thought OEM versions were tied to a
specific
| > machine??
| >
|
| That's true, once installed.
|
| There are some very important reasons that an OEM license costs so
| much less than a retail license. OEM licenses are very limited:
|
| 1) OEM versions must be sold with a piece of non-peripheral
| hardware (normally a motherboard or hard drive, if not an entire PC,
| although Microsoft has greatly relaxed the hardware criteria for WinXP)
| and are _permanently_ bound to the first PC on which they are installed.
| An OEM license, once installed, is not legally transferable to another
| computer under any circumstances. This is the main reason some people
| avoid OEM versions; if the PC dies or is otherwise disposed of (even
| stolen), you cannot re-use your OEM license on a new PC. The only
| legitimate way to transfer the ownership of an OEM license is to
| transfer ownership of the entire PC.
|
| 2) Microsoft provides no free support for OEM versions. If you
| have any problems that require outside assistance, your only recourse is
| to contact the manufacturer/builder of the PC or the vendor of the OEM
| license. This would include such issues as lost a Product Key or
| replacing damaged installation media. (Microsoft does make allowances
| for those instances when you can prove that the OEM has gone out of
| business.) This doesn't mean that you can't download patches and
| service packs from Microsoft -- just no free telephone or email support
| for problems with the OS.
|
| 3) An OEM CD cannot be used to perform an upgrade of an earlier
| OS, as it was designed to be installed _only_ upon an empty hard drive.
| It can still be used to perform a repair installation (a.k.a. an
| in-place upgrade) of an existing WinXP installation.
|
| 4) If the OEM CD was designed by a specific manufacturer, such as
| eMachines, Sony, Dell, Gateway, etc., it will most likely only install
| on the same brand of PC, as an additional anti-piracy feature. Further,
| such CDs are severely customized to contain only the minimum of device
| drivers, and a lot of extra nonsense, that the manufacturer feels
| necessary for the specific model of PC for which the CD was designed.
| (To be honest, such CDs should _not_ be available on the open market;
| but, if you're shopping someplace on-line like eBay, swap meets, or
| computer fairs, there's often no telling what you're buying until it's
| too late.) The "generic" OEM CDs, such as are manufactured by Microsoft
| and sold to small systems builders, don't have this particular problem,
| though, and are pretty much the same as their retail counterparts, apart
| from the licensing, support, and upgrading restrictions.
|
| --
|
| Bruce Chambers
|
| Help us help you:
|
|
|
| You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
| both at once. - RAH