New Computer - Use "Update" Version of XP?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jonesy
  • Start date Start date
J

Jonesy

I am guessing that the answer to this is going to be a big, fat "no",
but I wanted to ask here if anyone has had any success regardless.

I'm building a new pc. The previous computer I owned was a dell, and
after owning it for 6 months I purchased the "upgrade" version of XP (I
was originally using millenium).

Is there *any* possibilty of using the "upgrade" version of XP for the
OS on my new pc?
 
I am guessing that the answer to this is going to be a big, fat "no",
but I wanted to ask here if anyone has had any success regardless.

I'm building a new pc. The previous computer I owned was a dell, and
after owning it for 6 months I purchased the "upgrade" version of XP (I
was originally using millenium).

Is there *any* possibilty of using the "upgrade" version of XP for the
OS on my new pc?


I think so, I do. However this assumes you have a CD for another
version of Windows from which you are upgrading. In your previous case,
it saw whatever was already on the Dell disk. But on a new computer
with blank disk, you have to show it the older version CD.

Near the start of the installation of the installation of the XP Upgrade
version, it will ask to see the CD for the older version (meaning you
take out the XP CD, and put in the older CD for a minute or so). I
dont have a Dell, but I show it an installation CD for a similar Upgrade
version of Win98, and then it's happy, and continues with the XP CD.
Any old Win98 or WinME CD should satisfy it.
 
Wayne said:
I think so, I do. However this assumes you have a CD for another
version of Windows from which you are upgrading. In your previous case,
it saw whatever was already on the Dell disk. But on a new computer
with blank disk, you have to show it the older version CD.

Near the start of the installation of the installation of the XP Upgrade
version, it will ask to see the CD for the older version (meaning you
take out the XP CD, and put in the older CD for a minute or so). I
dont have a Dell, but I show it an installation CD for a similar Upgrade
version of Win98, and then it's happy, and continues with the XP CD.
Any old Win98 or WinME CD should satisfy it.


Thanks guys for your help. Another thing I forgot to mention was that
I was told that windows OS software is only licensed for use on *one*
computer only. There won't be any problems along this regard, will
there?

And yes, I still do have the "recovery" disk from my Dell that has
millenium.
 
Here is the Microsoft page that describes requirements for installing
the XP Upgrade version.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941

Says you can show a CD for any of

Windows 98
Windows 98 Second Edition
Windows Millennium Edition
Windows NT 4.0
Windows 2000 Professional

Provided the licence for the previous OS is a full licence. If it is
the OEM license for the Dell, it would be a license violation to use
it on a new PC.
 
Thanks guys for your help. Another thing I forgot to mention was that
I was told that windows OS software is only licensed for use on *one*
computer only. There won't be any problems along this regard, will
there?


Yes, the idea is one installed system per purchased CD. That's the
entire purpose of the XP Activation system, to enforce that effectively.
You must Activate the new computer within 30 days to be able to continue
using it.

Here is a Microsoft FAQ about Activation.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302878
 
On 6 Feb 2005 21:58:05 -0800, "Jonesy"
So, I'm essentially stuck with buying another copy of XP then.

Timing is excellent to download and check out out Linux.
You may be very surprised. Two distributions are easy for
newcomers and freely downloaded, Mandrake 10.1 and SuSE 9.2.

Use this link for these and others: http://linuxiso.org/
 
Thanks guys for your help. Another thing I forgot to mention was that
I was told that windows OS software is only licensed for use on *one*
computer only. There won't be any problems along this regard, will
there?
If you can find an full install OS CD (which is not installed on
another PC) you can use to qualify for the XP upgrade, I think you are
fine.

And yes, I still do have the "recovery" disk from my Dell that has
millenium.
That is irrelvent, as that is an OEM license specifically for that
Dell.
 
Here is a Microsoft FAQ about Activation.
So, I'm essentially stuck with buying another copy of XP then.

Oh, for heaven sakes. Install XP. Download "WPA_Kill.exe" from the
Internet and run it. Product Activation goes away.
 
DaveW said:
No, it will not work. For a new OS installation you MUST use the Full
version.

If he won't be using the Windows XP OS on the Dell system
anymore, then Microsoft may allow him to move it to a differerent
system. A phone call to them is suggested.
 
KC said:
If he won't be using the Windows XP OS on the Dell system
anymore, then Microsoft may allow him to move it to a differerent
system. A phone call to them is suggested.

Which is what I ended up doing (thanks to the polite responders here
though). I chatted with one of the techs on the phone and she seemed
pretty confident that I won't have a problem making the switch over to
the new computer, even with the Dell "reinstallation" cd. In any case,
she said to call back if there *is* a problem.
 
DaveW said:
No, it will not work. For a new OS installation you MUST use the Full
version.

Wrong. All you need is an authorized copy of a supported, 'upgradable',
O.S. for it to verify during the install.
 
Exactly true David. My computer was assembled a few days ago, and when
I booted the computer off of XP, it began the installation. After a
few mintues, it asked for a copy of the previous OS, and I inserted the
Dell disk. After 30 seconds, it asked for the XP disk and then
finished installation. No problems whatsoever.

In any case, thanks to everyone here once again for helping me out on
this issue.
 
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