unconventional XP installation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Beck
  • Start date Start date
B

Beck

Just bought a second hand PC for my Mum and it came with windows 2000
preinstalled.
I wanted her to have XP, so seeing as I am now using Vista, I thought she
could use my XP OEM disc - deciding to install and sort out the activation
issues afterwards. I fully expected to have to do the process over the
phone and have to explain to someone why I was installing XP on a new PC
when it is tied to another (currently dual booting, but not actually using
the XP).
So I rang up and got put through to a fully automated system, I entered
numbers, they read back some numbers and activation was done. No need for
explanations of hardware changes, no nothing at all. I am slightly confused
by this because I was under the impression that I could only have it
installed on one computer at a time. Have I misunderstood the situation?
What happens if I now try to update the other XP, will it shout at me and
tell me to sod off?

Now onto the real unconventional issue. Because I started the XP
installation from the 2000 desktop, when I rebooted into XP setup I was
unable to delete the 2000 C partition and create another as apparently C had
some setup files on it. It originally gave me a warning that I could not do
an upgrade from 2000professional and had to do a full install. So anyway it
gave me a warning that installing two operating systems on same C partition
may cause corruption and 2000 may not run. I proceeded to install anyway.
XP installation went without a hitch but now obviously I have XP home and
2000 pro on the same C partition. XP is working fine and I have no need to
boot into 2000 but I am concerned that I may get problems later down the
road having two OS on same partition. Should I expect any problems?
 
First, Vista is still in the "testing" phase. It is not a general "release"
version of Windows yet.

There is no true method of blocking OEM version installs.
 
Dave B. said:
Just because it activated doesn't mean it's legal, which it's not by the
way.
Click to expand...

I didn't suggest it was, I was just confused as to why it didn't put me
through to an operator to explain the situation.
 
Yves Leclerc said:
First, Vista is still in the "testing" phase. It is not a general
"release"
version of Windows yet.
Click to expand...

I am aware of that, that is what beta testing is all about.
There is no true method of blocking OEM version installs.
Click to expand...

So if I had a full retail version it would have done it properly?
 
go ahead and uninstall, please





Beck said:
I didn't suggest it was, I was just confused as to why it didn't put me
through to an operator to explain the situation.
Click to expand...
 
Dave B. said:
Done what properly?
Click to expand...

Well I was thinking that because the XP was originally activated on another
machine, I didn't expect this activation to go through and expected to speak
to someone to explain why it was being activated again.
MS go on about their security measures, activation, WGA and so on, but this
seems to make a mockery of the system. As far as I am concerned, I should
not be able to activate a second machine and the new one should not accept
WGA.
 
Just as a retail copy, you can activate an OEM copy on a different machine
(usually after a set amount of time has past since the last activation, I'm
not 100% how this works). If it upsets you that much, remove the illegal
install. This would be the first time I've heard anyone complain because
they had no problem with activation.
 
Dave B. said:
Just as a retail copy, you can activate an OEM copy on a different machine
(usually after a set amount of time has past since the last activation,
I'm not 100% how this works). If it upsets you that much, remove the
illegal install. This would be the first time I've heard anyone complain
because they had no problem with activation.
Click to expand...

TBH I don't understand myself why I have a problem with it. I suppose its
because I expected more from MS and that they would have systems in place by
now to stop this sort of thing happening.
I will uninstall it from the original machine. I know thats not making it
fully legal because OEM cannot be removed from original machine but as far
as I am concerned as long as its not on two machines at the same time then
that makes me feel better.
 
Dave B. said:
Just as a retail copy, you can activate an OEM copy on a different machine
(usually after a set amount of time has past since the last activation,
I'm not 100% how this works). If it upsets you that much, remove the
illegal install. This would be the first time I've heard anyone complain
because they had no problem with activation.
Click to expand...

I've read that after 120 days, the MS database is purged of the record of an
activation but I don't know if there is any truth to it.
 
Dave B. said:
I guess removing the legal install is another way to go...
Click to expand...

Thats the better route for me, as I do have an original XP restore disc that
came with the laptop if I ever need to use it.
What do you reckon to the two operating systems on one partition problem?
 
When you installed XP you needed to boot from the CD and remove the win2000
operating system. Once XP is installed on your Mums PC you should remove it
from your PC & you can't reinstall it on your PC without removing it from
your Mums PC, even with the restore disk. Your license only allows one
instance to be installed at any one time no matter how many types of media
you have. (OEM disk or restore disk)

Although using an OEM version is not stricktly legal transferring from one
PC to another.

Neil
 
Just bought a second hand PC for my Mum and it came with windows 2000
preinstalled.
I wanted her to have XP, so seeing as I am now using Vista, I thought she
could use my XP OEM disc - deciding to install and sort out the activation
issues afterwards. I fully expected to have to do the process over the
phone and have to explain to someone why I was installing XP on a new PC
when it is tied to another (currently dual booting, but not actually using
the XP).
So I rang up and got put through to a fully automated system, I entered
numbers, they read back some numbers and activation was done. No need for
explanations of hardware changes, no nothing at all. I am slightly
confused by this because I was under the impression that I could only have
it installed on one computer at a time. Have I misunderstood the
situation? What happens if I now try to update the other XP, will it shout
at me and tell me to sod off?

Now onto the real unconventional issue. Because I started the XP
installation from the 2000 desktop, when I rebooted into XP setup I was
unable to delete the 2000 C partition and create another as apparently C
had some setup files on it. It originally gave me a warning that I could
not do an upgrade from 2000professional and had to do a full install. So
anyway it gave me a warning that installing two operating systems on same
C partition may cause corruption and 2000 may not run. I proceeded to
install anyway.
XP installation went without a hitch but now obviously I have XP home and
2000 pro on the same C partition. XP is working fine and I have no need
to boot into 2000 but I am concerned that I may get problems later down
the road having two OS on same partition. Should I expect any problems?
Click to expand...

XP Home can't upgrade Windows 2000. When getting a used computer it's
always best, anyway, remove all partitions and do a clean install. You
don't want to inherit someone else's problems, porn, etc.

On a different note, even though your copy of XP home activated, the license
agreement (EULA) states it is bound to the first computer on which it's
installed, so you can't move it to a different computer. What you do is up
to you, but the license agreement says it can't be moved.
 
"Dave B."wrote

TBH I don't understand myself why I have a problem with it. I suppose its
because I expected more from MS and that they would have systems in place
by now to stop this sort of thing happening.
I will uninstall it from the original machine. I know thats not making it
fully legal because OEM cannot be removed from original machine but as far
as I am concerned as long as its not on two machines at the same time then
that makes me feel better.
Click to expand...

As a TechBeta tester don't you feel a responsibility to abide by the EULA?
OEM copies are lower cost because of the restrictions on them. If you want
a movable copy get a retail version.
 
XP Home can't upgrade Windows 2000. When getting a used computer it's
always best, anyway, remove all partitions and do a clean install. You
don't want to inherit someone else's problems, porn, etc.
Click to expand...

Yep and I tried to do that. It would not allow me to delete the C partition
and start afresh though. I realise now what I did wrong, I did not boot
from the disc but started the install from the desktop.
On a different note, even though your copy of XP home activated, the
license agreement (EULA) states it is bound to the first computer on which
it's installed, so you can't move it to a different computer. What you do
is up to you, but the license agreement says it can't be moved.
Click to expand...

I appreciate that and am aware of the restrictions (knowing I should have
originally purchased upgrade instead). However whilst it is against the
EULA I do not see the harm in switching providing I remove it from the other
pc. Its not like I am wanting to install it on multiple computers and no
animals were harmed in the making of the OS.
 
Rock said:
As a TechBeta tester don't you feel a responsibility to abide by the EULA?
OEM copies are lower cost because of the restrictions on them. If you
want a movable copy get a retail version.
Click to expand...

Yes I do and ordinarily I am an honest customer. However this minor detail
to me of switching the OS and removing it from the other machine is far
better than running the dodgy windows 2000 copy that was on the machine when
I purchased it.
I have no money to buy another copy, would MS prefer I switch the machine or
run illegal 2000 ?
Rules are good, but sometimes common sense should override them.
 
neil said:
When you installed XP you needed to boot from the CD and remove the
win2000 operating system. Once XP is installed on your Mums PC you should
remove it from your PC & you can't reinstall it on your PC without
removing it from your Mums PC, even with the restore disk. Your license
only allows one instance to be installed at any one time no matter how
many types of media you have. (OEM disk or restore disk)

Although using an OEM version is not stricktly legal transferring from one
PC to another.
Click to expand...

Hi Neil, yes that is what I think I did wrong, I didn't boot from CD so it
all spiralled from there.
The restore disc I have is one that came with the laptop, its a totally
different version to the OEM one.
 
Beck said:
Yes I do and ordinarily I am an honest customer. However this minor
detail to me of switching the OS and removing it from the other machine is
far better than running the dodgy windows 2000 copy that was on the
machine when I purchased it.
I have no money to buy another copy, would MS prefer I switch the machine
or run illegal 2000 ?
Rules are good, but sometimes common sense should override them.
Click to expand...


It's an issue of integrity. Just because you have no money does that also
then mean you can go out and steal something you want? Where do you draw
the line? It's not an issue of what MS wants, it's an issue of personal
honesty and integrity.
 
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