Dell XP on new computer?

[fivetiger]

I'm building a new computer this month and would like to install XP on it until I feel a little more comfortable with Vista's performance.

I have the XP re-install disc and the COA from my current computer. Whether it is or is not legal, is there any other reason not to install it? I'm afraid it might put a whole bunch of that Dell/Microsoft crap on my computer. You know, those programs and shortcuts that don't seem to want to delete normally.

I also have Microsoft Works 2002. Same question with that, I guess.

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Your comments imply that you do not care about legality.
Read your EULA and make your determination.

However, here at AT, we do care aboiut legality and piracy.

Anandtech Moderator

 

[ScrapSilicon]

ethics gone by the wayside

 

[mechBgon]

Piracy discussion isn't kosher around here, fivetiger. If you want to be a pirate, why don't you just pirate WinXP outright and be done with it, instead of using your Dell's OEM WinXP?

And if you don't really want to be a pirate, then you know what you need to do... buy a new WinXP license and CD, which will address your concerns about unwanted junk getting installed (a risk that also exists with pirated WinXP).

 

[fivetiger]

Hold on a minute here, fellas...

I'm not into piracy at all. I even buy all my DVDs and music CDs at the B & M stores! Who does that anymore?

My understanding of this while searching around these very forums is that the EULA may allow XP to be installed on a SECOND machine.

Why in the world would I buy a ridiculously expensive retail copy of Windows XP, when I'll be buying Vista in 6 months anyway? I'm certainly not going to hold off building my computer just because Microsoft can't get there sh!t together regarding Vista and Vista drivers.

 

[pcgeek11]

My understanding of this while searching around these very forums is that the EULA may allow XP to be installed on a SECOND machine.

I wonder where he got that idea from?

It certainly wasn't from this forum!

Plus the Dell key will not activate on the net.

pcgeek11

 

[mechBgon]

My understanding of this while searching around these very forums is that the EULA may allow XP to be installed on a SECOND machine.

Maybe you're thinking of Microsoft Office, which allows installing to a portable device (laptop computer) in addition to a desktop computer, so the primary user can use it on the road, as well as at the office.

Why in the world would I buy a ridiculously expensive retail copy of Windows XP, when I'll be buying Vista in 6 months anyway?

In a word, I'd say legality, or honor, or integrity, or whatever you want to call that concept of doing the right thing out of respect for yourself and the authority figures in your world view. At any rate, no one said "retail copy," but if you did, you could sell it off when you were done with it and recoup your outlay, unlike OEM.

I'm certainly not going to hold off building my computer just because Microsoft can't get there sh!t together regarding Vista and Vista drivers.

If you look around, I think you'll find that Vista is working fine, even for gaming purposes. If you have old hardware that doesn't have Vista drivers, then it may never have Vista drivers. That's the hardware manufacturer's problem, not Microsoft's. If you're building a new system, with new hardware, then you can pick hardware whose manufacturer has decided to make drivers for Vista. A lil' research and you're all set.

 

[fivetiger]

I read it here

Read the EULA very carefully. Under some Compaq EULAs with Windows 2000, you could actually transfer the license a single time to another machine so long as all of the software/manuals/rights were transferred with it. I have several of those and purchased them solely for that reason.

I haven't looked at this EULA closely yet. I wanted to find out first whether I would want to install it on another computer EVEN IF I was legally allowed to do so....which is why I originally said "whether this is or is not legal" Clearly, that didn't come out the way I intended.

Okay...so let's assume it is illegal. Let's also assume that I going to buy a full retail version of Vista once some drivers get worked out. What would you advise I do in the meantime?

EDIT: I know for a fact that the games I play frequently are having a hard time with Vista right now.

 

[mechBgon]

Okay...so let's assume it is illegal. Let's also assume that I going to buy a full retail version of Vista once some drivers get worked out. What would you advise I do in the meantime?

One option is to download a 120-day trial of WinXP Professional x64 Edition from Microsoft.com. Another option is to buy WinXP, full retail version, then sell it when you're done. I mean heck, that's what you'd do if you were waiting to buy an '08 Toyota... pick up something to drive in the meanwhile, then sell it off later.

Tangentially, if I were you, I would run DBAN on the Dell's hard drive, re-image it, then sell it off with the OEM WinXP it came with, and there's your money out of your OEM WinXP and hardware, to use towards your new OS and hardware.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: fivetiger
What would you advise I do in the meantime?

EDIT: I know for a fact that the games I play frequently are having a hard time with Vista right now.

you are building a new computer correct..? Then you should get an oem xphome/pro/mce/x64(unactivated copy) for it if you know vista isn't up to the games you are playing ..

Originally posted by: fivetiger

I also have Microsoft Works 2002. Same question with that, I guess.

using openoffice for my needs in that area even tho I do have Office2k3 SB and Pro as a mailed to me from M$ ..

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Okay...so let's assume it is illegal. Let's also assume that I going to buy a full retail version of Vista once some drivers get worked out. What would you advise I do in the meantime?

One option is to download a 120-day trial of WinXP Professional x64 Edition from Microsoft.com. Another option is to buy WinXP, full retail version, then sell it when you're done. I mean heck, that's what you'd do if you were waiting to buy an '08 Toyota... pick up something to drive in the meanwhile, then sell it off later.

Tangentially, if I were you, I would run DBAN on the Dell's hard drive, re-image it, then sell it off with the OEM WinXP it came with, and there's your money out of your OEM WinXP and hardware, to use towards your new OS and hardware.

Have you actually tried Vista? You could also download Vista and try it for 30 days and see if everything works with your new hardware. If it does I see no reason not to go with Vista.