Windows XP on a new Hard Drive

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Guest

My HD failed recently and I'm getting a replacement from Newegg. I have the
WinXP disc/key I used on the previous installation, which has since been
wiped, I'm sure.

Can I use the same disc and key on the new Hard Drive? Do I need to buy a
new copy of WinXP Home?
 
SnappleMan said:
My HD failed recently and I'm getting a replacement from Newegg. I have
the
WinXP disc/key I used on the previous installation, which has since been
wiped, I'm sure.

Can I use the same disc and key on the new Hard Drive? Do I need to buy a
new copy of WinXP Home?
Click to expand...

Sure you can use it. XP can be reinstalled as many times as you want. For
a retail version it can be moved to a different computer. For an OEM
version it is tied by the license to the first computer on which it's
installed.
 
Rock said:
Sure you can use it. XP can be reinstalled as many times as you want. For
a retail version it can be moved to a different computer. For an OEM
version it is tied by the license to the first computer on which it's
installed.
Click to expand...

My copy was OEM from newegg... Since it's tied to my old HD which is
unrecoverable, do I need a new copy? (again, I hate to post on both sections,
and thanks for the quick help)
 
SnappleMan said:
My copy was OEM from newegg... Since it's tied to my old HD which is
unrecoverable, do I need a new copy? (again, I hate to post on both
sections, and thanks for the quick help)
Click to expand...


As Rock said above, it's tied to the *computer*, not to the HD. You can
replace the HD as necessary or as desired.
 
My copy was OEM from newegg... Since it's tied to my old HD which is
unrecoverable, do I need a new copy? (again, I hate to post on both
sections,
and thanks for the quick help)
Click to expand...


As I said in my first post, "Sure you can use it". The hard drive can be
replaced What you cant do with an OEM copy is move it to a new computer,
but you can change/repair/replace the components in the system on which it
was first installed.
 
Now I understand, thank you.

I should've seen this from the beginning, when you first said it, but I
misunderstood you.

Good to hear this, didn't feel like dishing out another 90 bucks.
 
SnappleMan said:
Now I understand, thank you.

I should've seen this from the beginning, when you first said it, but I
misunderstood you.

Good to hear this, didn't feel like dishing out another 90 bucks.
Click to expand...

You're welcome. Heck no, once is enough, but it is a limitation of OEM
versions. I usually recommend using an upgrade edition for XP. They are
about the same cost as the OEM edition but it can be moved to a different PC
if first removed from the one on which it had been installed. The one hitch
is that you have to have a qualifying OS either installed or show proof by
inserting the installation CD for it early in the XP install process when
asked by the install routine. Win95/98/2000 will do. All you need is the
CD. You can even buy one of these for cheap on eBay.
 
Rock said:
You're welcome. Heck no, once is enough, but it is a limitation of OEM
versions. I usually recommend using an upgrade edition for XP. They are
about the same cost as the OEM edition but it can be moved to a different PC
if first removed from the one on which it had been installed. The one hitch
is that you have to have a qualifying OS either installed or show proof by
inserting the installation CD for it early in the XP install process when
asked by the install routine. Win95/98/2000 will do. All you need is the
CD. You can even buy one of these for cheap on eBay.
Click to expand...

I'll definately make note of that for any future builds I do. I'm picking up
things as I go along, I'm 16, so much of what's going on is new to me.
 
I'll definately make note of that for any future builds I do. I'm picking
up
things as I go along, I'm 16, so much of what's going on is new to me.
Click to expand...

Now that Vista is out it's a whole different process. Have fun.
 
I'm not gonna bother with vista 'till it works right. From what I've heard
and seen, there's no reason to upgrade...yet.
 
SnappleMan said:
I'm not gonna bother with vista 'till it works right. From what I've heard
and seen, there's no reason to upgrade...yet.
Click to expand...

There's good reason to wait for Vienna, what Vista was supposed to be.
Now, it's just another revenue stream for MS and free testing for MS
from millions of guinea pigs.

As you are young, you may want to check out the future of operating systems:

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Alias
 
SnappleMan said:
I'm not gonna bother with vista 'till it works right.
Click to expand...


I've been running it here for nearly three months, and it works just fine.
I've had no problems at all with it.


From what I've
heard and seen, there's no reason to upgrade...yet.
Click to expand...


Regardless of my personal experience, I agree with that point of view. A
change of operating system should be driven by need, not just because there
is a new version available. Are you having a problem with Windows XP that
you expect Vista to solve? Do you have or expect to get new hardware or
software that is supported in Vista, but not in XP? Is there some new
feature in Vista that you need or yearn for? Does your job require you have
skills in Vista? Are you a computer hobbyist who enjoys playing with
whatever is newest?

If the answer to one or more of those questions is yes (and your hardware is
adequate for Vista), then you should get Vista. Otherwise most people should
stick with what they have. There is *always* a learning curve and a
potential for problems when you take a step as big as this one, regardless
of how wonderful whatever you're contemplating moving to is. Sooner or later
you'll have to upgrade (to Vista or its successor) because you'll want
support for hardware or software that you can't get in XP, but don't rush
it.
 
I'm with you. I don't have the need to upgrade to Vista. But, since I'm an
avid gamer... and eventually I do hope to upgrade to nVidia's SLI board and
run two 8800gtx's, this is of course only when games that fully utilize dx10
are available, and when Vista becomes part of the recommended specs. Until
then, I'm gonna enjoy using my XP.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
 
Good day

Been reading through hard disk replacement threads. I want to install a
larger hard drive on my XP home system. Can I use something like Powerquest
Drive Image to clone the entire existing disk contents or do I have to
install everything again?

Many thanks

Ian
 
Ian said:
Good day

Been reading through hard disk replacement threads. I want to install a
larger hard drive on my XP home system. Can I use something like Powerquest
Drive Image to clone the entire existing disk contents or do I have to
install everything again?

Many thanks

Ian
Click to expand...

Black and white answer: Yes.

But that answer does not apply to everyone or every installation.
Since you are here asking, I would guess that you are running a retail
computer of some brand name, and as such, it may get more complicated
because the boot hard drive is a consideration when performing
Activation. You may be asked to call a number to complete activation.
Don't be afraid to do so. It works. ...but again, you may get through
it with no problem. I have done so.

Otherwise, give us more details of your system and a better answer can
be provided.

pop
 
Ian said:
....I want to install a larger hard drive on my XP home system.
Can I use something like Powerquest Drive Image to clone the
entire existing disk contents or do I have to install everything
again?
Click to expand...


You can just make a clone of the current HD on the new HD.
The big names in cloning utilities include Ghost 9.0/10.0
(né "DriveImage"), True Image, Casper XP, BootItNG, etc.
You can also use the utility that most drive manufacturers
have available for download from their websites. All are
capable of transferring the entire contents of a smaller HD
to the entire surface of a larger HD. After the cloning is
complete, use Disk Manager on the running OS to check
the "active" flag on the boot partition of the clone and to set
that flag if the partition is not marked "active". Most utilities
will either do that automatically or let you set the option to
make it "active" or not.

One caution in cloning the XP family of OSes, though, is to
disconnect the HD containing the "parent" OS (i.e. the original
OS) before starting up the clone OS for the first time. That
keeps the clone from confusing itself with its "parent". Thereafter,
the clone will be independent with a good concept of "self", and
it can be run with its "parent" OS visible to it. Disconnecting the
old HD will also allow the new HD to automatically move to the
head of the HD boot order, and the clone will boot up just as the
"parent" OS did. Before you re-connect the old HD, do either
of 2 things:
1) Reverse the jumpering of the 2 HDs (assuming that they're IDE),
or reverse the physical connectors to the 2 HDs (IDE or SATA),
or
2) Reverse the boot order of the 2 HDs in the BIOS.

This will allow the MBR and boot files in the new HD to take
control at boot time.

Once the clone OS is run independently, the "parent" OS on the
old HD can be seen by the clone with no problem. As for the
reverse - the fresh unbooted clone being seen by the "parent" OS -
that isn't a problem. You can then use the HD as storage space,
or you can add a 2nd entry to the boot.ini file of the boot partition
on the new HD to make the system dual-booting (subject of another
thread).

*TimDaniels*
 
Tim

Many thanks to you and all others who provided advice and information. I'll
let the forum know how I get on.

Thanks again

Ian
 
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