I've been lurking here and following the posts with interest. I've
never built my own pc. My present one is a hybrid, Intel 2.2gighz with
WinXPpro, an OEM version that came with the machine, installed. (but I
have the cd) My pc isn't TOO far out of date (I don't think) but I
wouldn't mind having a backup, cause it's getting on in years (I got
it in 2002). Just ONE of the questions I need answered if I'm going to
undertake a build is: how do you guys handle getting your Windows OS?
I'm pretty satisfied with the XPpro, a 32 bit, and would probably put
it on a new machine also. I thought at first about getting another
license, but that seems as expensive as purchasing another CD
outright. Also thought about just installing my present one and not
activating it till I was ready to retire the old pc. This is kind of
unhandy though. For the dough I'd sink in a new homebuilt, $140 for a
new XPpro CD probably wouldn't kill me. Is there a cheaper way? What
would be your advice for a novice pc homebuilder?
On Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:45:35 -0400, John Smith
<crassono_spam@verizon.net> wrote:
>I've been lurking here and following the posts with interest. I've
>never built my own pc. My present one is a hybrid, Intel 2.2gighz with
>WinXPpro, an OEM version that came with the machine, installed. (but I
>have the cd) My pc isn't TOO far out of date (I don't think) but I
>wouldn't mind having a backup, cause it's getting on in years (I got
>it in 2002). Just ONE of the questions I need answered if I'm going to
>undertake a build is: how do you guys handle getting your Windows OS?
>I'm pretty satisfied with the XPpro, a 32 bit, and would probably put
>it on a new machine also. I thought at first about getting another
>license, but that seems as expensive as purchasing another CD
>outright.
>Also thought about just installing my present one and not
>activating it till I was ready to retire the old pc.
Once an operating system such as Windows XP has been installed, it
must be activated within 30 days or it will not function until you do
activate it. And you can not re-use a OEM version once it has been
activated on another system regardless of the fact that the original
computer has been trashed or not.
>This is kind of unhandy though. For the dough I'd sink in a new homebuilt, $140 for a
>new XPpro CD probably wouldn't kill me. Is there a cheaper way? What
>would be your advice for a novice pc homebuilder?
On Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:28:11 +1000, yogi <yogi@yellowstone.np> wrote:
>On Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:45:35 -0400, John Smith
><crassono_spam@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>Once an operating system such as Windows XP has been installed, it
>must be activated within 30 days or it will not function until you do
>activate it. And you can not re-use a OEM version once it has been
>activated on another system regardless of the fact that the original
>computer has been trashed or not.
You're saying that Microsoft will not re-activate because my XP
version says OEM and their lawyer-talk allows them to do this, right?
> For the dough I'd sink in a new homebuilt, $140 for a
> new XPpro CD probably wouldn't kill me. Is there a cheaper way? What
> would be your advice for a novice pc homebuilder?
Depending on how much you are tied to your present applications, you
could go free and legal by running Linux. You wouldn't need to pay for
security (FW/AV) software either.
You could get your feet wet by trying a live Ubuntu CD or by using Wubi.
John Smith wrote:
> On Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:28:11 +1000, yogi <yogi@yellowstone.np> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:45:35 -0400, John Smith
>> <crassono_spam@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> Once an operating system such as Windows XP has been installed, it
>> must be activated within 30 days or it will not function until you do
>> activate it. And you can not re-use a OEM version once it has been
>> activated on another system regardless of the fact that the original
>> computer has been trashed or not.
> You're saying that Microsoft will not re-activate because my XP
> version says OEM and their lawyer-talk allows them to do this, right?
If you keep some of the old parts (in your case probably only hard
drives and optical drives) you can probably do a repair install and
won't need to buy another license. A new CPU and motherboard don't
constitute a new computer. You can put in new drives later if you want.
If you replace the handle of a knife, then use the knife until the blade
wears out, then replace the blade, is it the same knife?
"John Smith" <crassono_spam@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:0ttc44p143ppgdeutrvbsbki28u69tnqci@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:28:11 +1000, yogi <yogi@yellowstone.np> wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:45:35 -0400, John Smith
>><crassono_spam@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>>
>>Once an operating system such as Windows XP has been installed, it
>>must be activated within 30 days or it will not function until you do
>>activate it. And you can not re-use a OEM version once it has been
>>activated on another system regardless of the fact that the original
>>computer has been trashed or not.
> You're saying that Microsoft will not re-activate because my XP
> version says OEM and their lawyer-talk allows them to do this, right?
Partially correct. MS *may* not activate your XP version because it is OEM
and licensed for the machine you bought. But they don't keep those records
forever. I buy full version software for my new builds, so I may not be
aware of some feature in the OEM versions, but I'd say to give it a go-
installing it and register it, over the phone if necessary (try online
first). Just be prepared to shell it out for a new license or full version
software if it don't work.
Legal disclaimer: You should always pay Microsoft and never install their
products without doing so or you will be a bad person.
"Matt" <matt@themattfella.xxxyyz.com> wrote in message
news:xgQ1k.6$K93.2@fe113.usenetserver.com...
> John Smith wrote:
>> On Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:28:11 +1000, yogi <yogi@yellowstone.np> wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:45:35 -0400, John Smith
>>> <crassono_spam@verizon.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Once an operating system such as Windows XP has been installed, it
>>> must be activated within 30 days or it will not function until you do
>>> activate it. And you can not re-use a OEM version once it has been
>>> activated on another system regardless of the fact that the original
>>> computer has been trashed or not.
>> You're saying that Microsoft will not re-activate because my XP
>> version says OEM and their lawyer-talk allows them to do this, right?
>
>
> If you keep some of the old parts (in your case probably only hard drives
> and optical drives) you can probably do a repair install and won't need to
> buy another license. A new CPU and motherboard don't constitute a new
> computer. You can put in new drives later if you want.
>
> If you replace the handle of a knife, then use the knife until the blade
> wears out, then replace the blade, is it the same knife?
I have used nothing but OEM XP Pro on my own and those I have built for
others for years and have never had any issues as long as it is 'one copy
for one system'. The OEM SP1 in this system has been through 5yrs of
upgrading and a couple of complete rebuilds and I have had to make a few
calls to reactivate, but I just tell them what I changed and they reactivate
with no problems at all. After about 6 months or so even the OEM resets and
you can reinstall it on a completely different system and it will
self-activate online just like a Retail version. These are OEM copies I
purchase when I buy major components.
Win XPpro for the pc I'm pipe-dreaming about 
Linear Mode
