re-partitioning preloaded XP for additional OS

  • Thread starter Thread starter johnny
  • Start date Start date
J

johnny

i was wondering if i could use my friends XP disk but use the registration
key on the bottom of my laptop - or are registration keys unique to each
copy of the OS disk? (i have a preloaded OS) - i want to repartition the
drive so that i can put linux on it and i don't want to buy ghost or
partition magic or the XP OS disk.
 
No. The Product Key that came with your laptop will only
work with the laptop's restore or recovery CD. In any case,
you would have to use a third-party partitioning program
to create a new partition if you wish to not reformat your drive
which would also remove your Windows XP installation.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| i was wondering if i could use my friends XP disk but use the registration
| key on the bottom of my laptop - or are registration keys unique to each
| copy of the OS disk? (i have a preloaded OS) - i want to repartition the
| drive so that i can put linux on it and i don't want to buy ghost or
| partition magic or the XP OS disk.
 
The opportunity to partition/repartition is available long before you are
asked to insert a product key. The O/P can do the partitioning and then
press F3 to exit.

To the original poster. This is not the way to do it though, as you want a
non-destructive method of partitioning. Do it from the 1st method and you
lose - everything!

You must boot from, and use Partition Magic (from the 2 floppies) that can
be created from within Partition Magic after it installed to the desktop.
This way, you can shrink one partition and use the freed up space to create
another partition.

--

Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
 
i was wondering if i could use my friends XP disk but use the
registration key on the bottom of my laptop - or are registration
keys unique to each copy of the OS disk? (i have a preloaded OS) - i
want to repartition the drive so that i can put linux on it and i
don't want to buy ghost or partition magic or the XP OS disk.
Click to expand...


Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of
CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are
purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for
any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and
vice versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full
version CD, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to
install a retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with
an English CD. No retail Product Key will work with a Volume Licensed
installation, and vice versa. Bottom line: Product Keys and CDs
cannot be mixed & matched. You have to have the specific type of
installation CD for which that license and Product Key was designed.

If you don't wish to spend money on Ghost or Partition Magic for
what may well be a one-time use, look into BootItNG from
http://www.bootitng.com/. Besides being a much less expensive
product, there's a fully functional 30-day evaluation version that you
can download and test.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having
both at once. - RAH
 
Carey said:
No. The Product Key that came with your laptop will only
work with the laptop's restore or recovery CD. In any case,
you would have to use a third-party partitioning program
to create a new partition if you wish to not reformat your drive
which would also remove your Windows XP installation.
Click to expand...

That sucks if the "non-destructive" repartition failed and if you're unable
to recover from that failure. It's too bad that the OS CD isn't provided
with preloaded systems. I know, it's an anti-piracy measure but it's a
lousy idea for those of us that would like to create dual boot machines.
 
That sucks if the "non-destructive" repartition failed and if you're
unable
to recover from that failure. It's too bad that the OS CD isn't provided
with preloaded systems. I know, it's an anti-piracy measure but it's a
lousy idea for those of us that would like to create dual boot machines.
Click to expand...

You need to shop around more next time you buy a computer. Some of them
include an installable CD with the purchase.
 
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