dumb question but...

[FactorD]

is it ok to partition a hdd with an OEM version of windows XP home installed on it?

i want to buy this oem copy of XP home(http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.a...949&category_id=225&manufacturer_id=0) for an existing PC, which already has another OS on it.

I have to wipe the hard drive before I can install the OEM XP home, since this version was meant to be distributed with new PCs only.

But after I've wiped it, and have installed XP home, I plan to partition the drive and install another OS, is that ok?

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: FactorD
I have to wipe the hard drive before I can install the OEM XP home, since this version was meant to be distributed with new PCs only.

Not really. The Windows installer won't bail out or anything if there are other OS's on the drive. You can install your copy of XP Home next to other OS's, provided you've got the free space available to partition. Now, installing XP Home may trash any other OS's bootloaders, but that has nothing to do with it being OEM or something, it's just the way Windows is.

But after I've wiped it, and have installed XP home, I plan to partition the drive and install another OS, is that ok?

Yeah, that's fine. Just leave yourself some free space on the drive when you're creating your XP Home partition.

 

[Kappo]

You can have as many OS installs as you like, provided you follow the licensing on each one. IE - Linux + Windows = 1 windows license, Windows + Windows = 2 windows licenses.

 

[FactorD]

thanks a lot. I think I will just clean install over everything.

Do you know if the XP installation has an option to just erase over the entire hard drive, re-format it, and then clean install XP home over it?

I want to do that and get rid of the other partitions and use the full space of the hard drive, then create a new partition to install the vista beta.

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: FactorD
Do you know if the XP installation has an option to just erase over the entire hard drive, re-format it, and then clean install XP home over it?

Sure, just delete whatever old partitions were there earlier before you create your new one for XP Home.

I want to do that and get rid of the other partitions and use the full space of the hard drive, then create a new partition to install the vista beta.

Though it doesn't usually matter, I wouldn't create any more partitions during the install than you immediately need (which is usually just one). If you want to add more OS's later, then create the partitions from the disk management tool in Windows.

 

[FactorD]

cool, thanks a lot, I've just ordered it! 😀

 

[Brazen]

Just be sure when you install XP Home that you don't use the entire free space on the harddrive, which Windows will do by default, unless you have a second harddrive.