Can I update or not?

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Guest

A relative gave me his old computer. I took it to be "wiped clean." Does
this now mean that I need to buy a new Windows XP license ~ $200? I tried to
install from a disc from another Dell computer I have that is newer but it
didn't work. I know I need two...now that XP seems like it is installed, can
I just buy the XP update ~$100?

HELP please....
 
Gin said:
A relative gave me his old computer. I took it to be "wiped clean."
Does
this now mean that I need to buy a new Windows XP license ~ $200? I
tried to install from a disc from another Dell computer I have that is
newer but it
didn't work. I know I need two...now that XP seems like it is
installed, can I just buy the XP update ~$100?
Click to expand...

If there is no operating system on the hard drive and your relative did
not give you an operating system, you will need to purchase one. You
cannot use the one from your Dell machine.

I don't understand your last sentence - what does "now that XP seems
like it is installed" mean? Is there an operating system on the donated
machine or not?

If you want to run a Microsoft operating system on your computers, you
will need to purchase one copy for each computer. The alternative is to
use a free operating system such as Linux or FreeBSD.

Malke
 
Gin said:
A relative gave me his old computer. I took it to be "wiped
clean." Does this now mean that I need to buy a new Windows XP
license ~ $200? I tried to install from a disc from another Dell
computer I have that is newer but it didn't work. I know I need
two...now that XP seems like it is installed, can I just buy the XP
update ~$100?
Click to expand...

Contradictions run amuck.

1) The Dell OEM license is stuck with the Dell. It's OEM. It's special.
According to the EULA you agreed to - it is non-transferrable. The Dell
could burst into flames, melting to a pile of slag and leave only a shiny
and strangely untouched OEM Windows XP Product Key sticker and your Windows
XP Installation CD that came with it and in accordance with the EULA - you
should burn those two items - since they have no other uses now.

2) 'Wiped Clean' coiuld mean so many things. Be specific. Did the other
user "reinstall the Windows XP operating system" or "low-level format the
drive and leave nothing on it"? Does it boot? Into Windows XP? If you
look under C:\Documents and Settings - do you see a lot of users?
 
I'm not sure if there is an OS on it or not--that's my problem. When it
boots up, it does show "windows XP" but could that be from my OEM disc?

My real ? is whether I need the full XP or just the update. Is there an
easy way to tell? Whenever I start it, it tries to force me to register and
I can't do anything else.
 
I find it's quite hard to understand.
You said wiped clean, that means if you turn on your computer, no operating
system (e.g. Windows) will load. It will probably said invalid disk....

Regarding which XP you should buy, if you own ORIGINAL version of any
previous Windows Full Installation CD (Windows 98/ME), then you will only
need to buy upgrade, but if you don't have any of them, then buy full version.

That exclude any CD given to you when you buy a new PC
 
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