Wrt fresh install of windows xp and sp3

[Daniel Small]

I'm planning to rebuild my secondary machine (HP Pavilion 753n, PIV 2.53ghz,
640MBram, 160GB Disk) with WinXP SP3 and would like to understand best
practices for this. I have a Dell OEM WinXP SP2 disk and am planning to
install that first and then use WinUpdate to install SP3. Will this work? Is
there a better way?

I also own an original retail WinXP Pro (pre SP1) but figure that starting
with the Dell SP2 disk is a better approach. Please advise?

 

[David B.]

Your making the assumption that you can use the Dell CD to load XP on your
HP, you are incorrect. The Dell disk can be used only on your Dell, you need
a separate license to install XP on your HP, so you'll have to use your
retail SP1 disk. You can slipstream SP3 into it if you want.

 

[Nepatsfan]

I'm planning to rebuild my secondary machine (HP Pavilion 753n, PIV 2.53ghz,
640MBram, 160GB Disk) with WinXP SP3 and would like to understand best
practices for this. I have a Dell OEM WinXP SP2 disk and am planning to
install that first and then use WinUpdate to install SP3. Will this work? Is
there a better way?

I also own an original retail WinXP Pro (pre SP1) but figure that starting
with the Dell SP2 disk is a better approach. Please advise?

You've got a couple of issues here that may complicate the situation. First off,
even if you're able to install XP on your HP using a Dell installation CD, it
won't pass activation. I can't guarantee that you'll be given the option to use
phone activation or change the CD key to the one from your HP. You're going to
have to decide if you want to take the chance.

As for using your original XP Pro CD, the problem here is that you won't be able
to install SP3 directly. If you try, you'll see this error message displayed.

http://home.comcast.net/~nepatsfan2005/XPSP3RC2.JPG

In order to install SP3, SP1 or SP2 has to already be present on the
installation. An alternative approach is to "slipstream" one of the earlier
service packs into the files from your original installation CD and create a new
installation CD. Here's some info on this procedure.

Create a Slip Stream version of Windows XP
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

Here are some of the files you'll need to obtain in order to follow this
procedure:

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and
Developers
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

AutoStreamer 1.0.33
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/1092632287/1

CDBurner XP
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/download.php

I can't vouch for, nor have I seen any confirmation that an installation CD that
has been slipstreamed with SP3 will work without problems. Also, SP3 is still
not available through Windows Update.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Nepatsfan]

I'm planning to rebuild my secondary machine (HP Pavilion 753n, PIV 2.53ghz,
640MBram, 160GB Disk) with WinXP SP3 and would like to understand best
practices for this. I have a Dell OEM WinXP SP2 disk and am planning to
install that first and then use WinUpdate to install SP3. Will this work? Is
there a better way?

I also own an original retail WinXP Pro (pre SP1) but figure that starting
with the Dell SP2 disk is a better approach. Please advise?

Following up on my earlier response, I just discovered that SP3 is available
through Windows Update.

Nepatsfan

 

[Stefan Kanthak]

I'm planning to rebuild my secondary machine (HP Pavilion 753n, PIV 2.53ghz,
640MBram, 160GB Disk) with WinXP SP3 and would like to understand best
practices for this. I have a Dell OEM WinXP SP2 disk and am planning to
install that first and then use WinUpdate to install SP3. Will this work? Is
there a better way?

If Dell did their job right (according to the policies Microsoft issued to
OEMs who create their own CDs) the Dell CD won't let you install XP on the
HP machine.

I also own an original retail WinXP Pro (pre SP1) but figure that starting
with the Dell SP2 disk is a better approach. Please advise?

Download the SP3 standalone installation package and integrate/slipstream
the SP3 into your original retail WinXP Pro CD.
Consider to integrate the Post-SP3 updates KB892130 and 942763 as well.

The following MSKB articles help to accomplish the job:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/900781/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814847/en-us and following
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/828930/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/296723/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/249149/en-us

Stefan

 

[deejaydee]

Hi readers,
Possibilities here. What i did was download the SP3
pack from Majorgeeks site ,and slipstream with Dell sp2 installation disk
and clean install thereafter. You don't enter any 25 alpha code or
activation . I am puzzled myself about it ,but it works on a Dell
Dimension4600i

deejaydee

 

[Nepatsfan]

The OP is asking about using a Dell OEM CD to install XP on an HP. Not something
I'd recommend doing. There would probably be a problem with activation.

It worked for you because you installed XP on a Dell computer. Under those
conditions, you shouldn't expect to have to enter a CD key or go through the
activation process. Dell uses what's called System Locked Preinstallation, or
SLP for short. For more info on this subject, check out this web site.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Locked_Preinstallation

The CD key that was used to complete the installation on your Dell is stored on
the installation CD in this file, I386\winnt.sif. You can open this file in
notepad. If you run a program on your Dell such as the Magic Jelly Bean
keyfinder or Belarc Advisor you'd discover that the CD key revealed by these
programs matches the one listed in winnt.sif.

Nepatsfan

 

[Stephen]

The Microsoft Download Center site is your only authorized web source for
downloading a licensed copy of Windows XP Service Pack 3. To report a website
offering unlicensed copies of Windows XP SP3 for download, please send e-mail
to: (e-mail address removed) or visit
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/ReportingUs.mspx.

 

[David B.]

It works because your using the Dell CD on a Dell computer, if you use a
Dell CD on an HP as the OP suggested it may install, but will not activate.

 

[deejaydee]

Hi Nepatsfan,
Sort of nice to have verbals with you. At present I have 3 computers. Re:
this issue regarding fresh install with SP3, in the past always had to apply
the alpha code,and also activation in the past, this has been going on the
last 5 yrs , this Dell disk is a Reinstallation XPSP2 disk, and I was lucky
when I bought I had 2 packs for installation, one still mint condition.
Many, many times I've reinstalled with no problems. Have 2 desktops +
laptop. Are you sure of your convictions personally? I'm now drafting this
message on a copy of xp pro, not on a dell computer. I will say at this
moment in time I've not reinstalled on this desktop but it has XPSP3
installed.
I've slipstreamed for both versions XP home, XP PRO Dell, also Toshiba
recovery disk ,XP Pro all is working fine
I'm sure we will have words again, I look at these user groups more or less
daily. Pass the time away , not much to do at 73 old man , keeps me
occupied.

deejaydee