Installing WinXp Home

[skitz]

Hi I was wondering whether it is possible to install a
version of winxp that i got with my new computer onto my
old computer that has winme to upgrade it?

regards

skitz

 

[Candace]

Only if it is stand-alone and not OEM (came with hardware).
And then you must remove it from the new machine or it will be killed by MS.
By the way, how did you get your screen name?

 

[skitz]

thanx candace

just one thing, how do you double check that it is
OEM/stand alone (is it that a stand alone was purchased
by itself, and OEM, is the the CD that came with the PC)

my screenname? well i don't know, I think i just came up
with it one day, like it?

 

[Candace]

That's right. Your system has this information. You can see it:

Start
Control Panel
(Administrative Tools, I think)
System
On the General tab, right under your name, is a long number. Mine has the
letters OEM embedded in the number. Does yours?

I asked about your name because I thought it might have been given to you by
friends!

 

[Ken Blake]

In

just one thing, how do you double check that it is
OEM/stand alone (is it that a stand alone was purchased
by itself, and OEM, is the the CD that came with the PC)

It's not OEM vs Stand-alone, it's OEM vs retail. There are two
kinds of OEM versions:

1. those that come with computers (always OEM). These are
sometimes customized or even BIOS-locked to the computer they
come with (if BIOS-locked, they physically can't be used on
another compter).

2. those that are bought in a store, but with some accompanying
hardware. These are normally generic, and identical to the retail
version except for the points below.

Both kinds of OEM versions have the following disadvantages:
1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's
installed on. It can never 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 have to
get any needed support from your OEM, and that may range anywhere
between good and non-existent.



Since you said your computer came with XP, what you have is
clearly an OEM version, but to verify this, right click on My
Computer and choose properties. The number you see beneath the
"Registered to" name will have "OEM" embedded within it.