Installing XP on non networked PCs

[John]

I work in a lab where we use recycled ,non-networked pcs to do basic data
acquisition with labview. I would like to buy copies of XP to load on these
machines. THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET OR NETWORK due to corporate
policy.I cannot get around that,please dont even ask.
I am told that XP will "time out" after some time if you dont register it
over the network/internet with Microsoft.
One of the doner pcs has NT on it.
So I need to know:
1-how to get around the timeout on a non-internet install from cds..is there
a number to call or something else i can do??
2-What is the best version of XP to use to install on an NT pc?
These are old Pentium IIIs.
Kindest Regards to all and thanks in advance for your time.
John

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I work in a lab where we use recycled ,non-networked pcs to do
basic data acquisition with labview. I would like to buy copies of
XP to load on these machines. THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE
INTERNET OR NETWORK due to corporate policy.I cannot get around
that,please dont even ask.
I am told that XP will "time out" after some time if you dont
register it over the network/internet with Microsoft.
One of the doner pcs has NT on it.
So I need to know:
1-how to get around the timeout on a non-internet install from
cds..is there a number to call or something else i can do??
2-What is the best version of XP to use to install on an NT pc?
These are old Pentium IIIs.

It's activation, not registration. You were informed incorrectly/did no
real research on it further to verify. ;-)

http://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+activate+Windows+XP
Would lead you to:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307890
Where it says, "Activate Windows XP by phone. If you do not have a modem or
an Internet connection, you can activate Windows XP by calling a Microsoft
customer service representative. The Activation Wizard displays the toll
free number that you can dial."

So - directly:

1 - Activate them. Got a telephone? Choose to activate by telephone - it
is a choice.
2 - Truthfully - probably none. However - it doesn't really matter -
Windows XP Home, Professional, Media Center, TabletPC Edition, etc are all
about the same in performance. You can do more tweaking (readily) with
Professional - but given your limitations - it doesn't really matter. I'd
probably say Windows XP Professional - so all your bases are covered.

Extra:

- How much memory do these systems have?
- Install with an integrated with SP3 Windows XP CD.
- Whether or not you get other updates is up to you. You can download every
update to put on them without them ever being on a network of any type.
- Have all the drivers (hardware) already downloaded on external media - be
sure you have these installed for stability.
- Use something like "Black Viper's" information to minimize what you have
running:
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
- Whether or not you have any other software installed at all is up to you
(antivirus, etc.) - but remember that people can infect machines through a
variety of methods (USB thumb drives - for example.)
- I'd make an image of the machine(s) - so I could quickly re-apply that
image in case of a problem.

 

[John]

Thank you for your informative and prompt reply. Forgive the novitiate's
query but what is the most painless way to "image" the pc? Is there a
software package that I can use to make an image onto an external usb
hardrive,for instance? I could google this but would preffer using
software/method that someone such as yourself with experience knows to work.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Thank you for your informative and prompt reply. Forgive the
novitiate's query but what is the most painless way to "image" the
pc? Is there a software package that I can use to make an image
onto an external usb hardrive,for instance? I could google this but
would preffer using software/method that someone such as yourself
with experience knows to work.

No order...
- Acronis True Image
- Symantec Ghost
- TeraByte BootIt Next Generation

Those are the ones I have used - although there are others you can use built
into things like the Ultimate BootCD for Windows that should work just fine.

 

[John]

Thank you for the info.
Kindest Regards
John