Install on new PC

[Guest]

I have an Elonex Exentia XP Media edition PC. The PC is almost dead and they
have gone into liquidation so can no longer help me. I would therefore like
to build a new "generic" PC and install XP Media Edition. However I have no
XP install CD just their original backup CD.

Can I do what I want to do or will I need to buy a retail version of XP (I
actually don't need the Media Edition but have obviously paid for it by
buying this pc)?

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have an Elonex Exentia XP Media edition PC. The PC is almost dead and
they
have gone into liquidation so can no longer help me. I would therefore
like
to build a new "generic" PC and install XP Media Edition. However I have
no
XP install CD just their original backup CD.

Can I do what I want to do or will I need to buy a retail version of XP (I
actually don't need the Media Edition but have obviously paid for it by
buying this pc)?

In terms of the license agreement, no, you can't use it. Yes, you paid for
it - but at a price that stipulated using it with that specific hardware.

In terms of the hardware, if it's any kind of "restore" CD, there's a good
chance that it will try to install drivers for hardware that isn't present
in the new machine. Some vendors also tie the setup to a BIOS signature,
so setup won't proceed on other branded systems.

You will probably find that you have fewer problems if you just get a retail
XP CD and install clean with that. If you have a Win98 or ME CD at hand,
you can save some money by purchasing an Upgrade version. These can do
clean installs, but ask for the previous-version CD to be inserted at one
point. And the retail version will already have SP2, so you won't have to
spend quite as much time getting updates.

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

Many thanks Patrick. I completely forgot that I have a retail version of
Win98 so can get the upgrade. £90 rather than £200!!

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Many thanks Patrick. I completely forgot that I have a retail
version of Win98 so can get the upgrade. £90 rather than £200!!

Even if you didn't have a copy of Windows 98, it's almost always a better
choice to buy a used copy of it and a Windows XP upgrade.