Xp Oem

[pomegranate]

You can skip the first paragraph, but it illustrates the background to my problem.
Here's my situation: I've had my laptop for over two years. Sony didn't provide a Windows XP disc, but instead two customised restoration DVDs which included XP. Since last year my optical drive has become unable to read these DVDs (though it is fine with some other DVDs, and all CDS), so I've not been able to do a fresh install for a long time. I've been running Ubuntu Linux since a month or so after I finished Episode 1, but lately (I think it's the winter) I've been really hankering for some gaming again, so somehow I need to switch back to XP.

I've been thinking of buying an OEM disc of XP. I understand that these are only meant to be used by system builders or when building a brand new machine. Whatever. I won't feel guilty about this because I've already paid for one XP licence as part of the price of my laptop (and Sony would charge me about ?50 for replacement restoration DVDs (which I wouldn't be able to use anyway), or about ?130 to replace the optical drive. Screw that, obviously. A full consumer copy of XP Home would cost me from ?135. The OEM copy would be about ?60.
What I need is, can I expect any problems using an OEM disc outside it's intended purpose? Do MS check up on how OEM installations are being used? Do I have to register the installation as a system builder? Would this effect access to Windows Updates?

 

[Shasta]

No, you should be fine.

 

[BarnyMiler]

Quick side note: Some laptops and PCs come with a Windows Genuine authentication sticker on them which includes a CD Key. Does your laptop have that? If so, what you can do is 'borrow' the media (CD or DVD) from a friend and then use that to install XP, but you have to make sure to put in YOUR legitimate CD Key instead of theirs. Perfectly legal as far as I know. After all, what you are paying for is the key or license, not the disk.

But yeah, usually OEM stuff (not just software, but hardware too) is intended for system builders, so usually things like manuals, accessories and neat packaging are excluded with this type of product. Probably part of the reason it's so cheap. I think support is limited as well, because for OEM stuff, they usually recommend that you go through the company that built the system, i.e. Sony or Dell or whatever, but in this case, that is you.

 

[pomegranate]

Quick side note: Some laptops and PCs come with a Windows Genuine authentication sticker on them which includes a CD Key. Does your laptop have that? If so, what you can do is 'borrow' the media (CD or DVD) from a friend and then use that to install XP, but you have to make sure to put in YOUR legitimate CD Key instead of theirs. Perfectly legal as far as I know. After all, what you are paying for is the key or license, not the disk.

That is true, I should have thought of that... Might be able to go that route. Thankyou.

 

[function9]

OEM version will be fine. It must be a new age in computing because in years past I never heard of DIY'ers contemplate buying the retail box. It's always OEM.

 

[Barney Fife]

When I build my DFI based system and I bought that OEM XP, I also installed on my sister and wife's Laptops. Wherever you install OS is OK and I believe MS gives you 3 chances to activate OS and 7 days to do so, more than that you have to call MS.
The other thing is that, its just OS and its drivers that's all. The DVD decoder that your laptop came with and the rest of bundle software should be DL/Installed separately, if Sony recovery CD will allow you.

Good Luck.

 

[pomegranate]

Oops, forgot I'd started this thread. Well, I bought it and installed it, went fine. Only problem is, I had to download all my drivers (as Barney says) seperately. As, for some reason, this included the network driver, I had to use my housemate's crusty old laptop before I could get online myself, and used my thumbdrive to move the drivers across. Took a while but got there in the end. System is much quicker than it was with the custom installation that Sony provided. w00t!

Thanks for everyone's advice. Next step is to make my laptop dual-boot with Ubuntu.

 

[Barney Fife]

Next step is to make my laptop dual-boot with Ubuntu.

Oh! man I hope you partitioned the master drive before installing Windows lol. I know you did I have faith in ya lol.

Good Luck.

 

[pomegranate]

Uh no I was too impatient to get my Windows on. I know I can do that afterwards anyway, and I didn't have any bootable partition tools to use...

 

[Barney Fife]

To be honest with you; I don't remember last time I partition anything, since HDDs became cheap. I have two drives and they're not partitioned. I think (99 and half percent) that Linux will have FAT32 partition-or included in the installer, on the flip-side, I believe (99 and three quarter of percent) it will ruin your other OS (XP) if you don't install Ubuntu first and XP second and let Ubuntu partition disk first.
It happened to me once at work and if I recollect my memory that's how it had happen.
Life is not cool my friend. lol.
So Sorry, correct me there if you really have to and you have no life.

Good Luck.

 

[pomegranate]

I don't really know for certain, but the first how-to that I found online starts with XP already-installed.

 

[CyberPitz]

Why don't you just download XP and get a genuine key *Possibly off what you already have?* and burn it at a friends house and use that? You already bought a copy, right? Why buy another?

 

[pomegranate]

Uh... even if I wanted to do that, it's clearly a bit late now, isn't it?