Is Dell WinXP different?

[wjal]

I'd like to know if I buy a Dell with WinXP if I would be able to run it (XP) on a non-Dell backup computer. Is there a proprietary difference? In other words, could I switch and run 98SE on the Dell and install the XP that came from Dell on the homebuilt?

 

[spyordie007]

No you could not install it on another computer because of the way they packaged it. Technically it's still the exact same version of Windows but it's packaged so that you would only be able to install it on a Dell Box.

-Spy

 

[spyordie007]

a thought-

You could install 98 on it (of course) but I cant think of a reason why... If you seriously need 98 how about dual-boot?

-Spy

 

[wjal]

Thanks Spy. I don't really need 98SE on the Dell. I would like to have XP on the homebuilt. It's just that M$ doesn't like to see the same copy on more than one machine at a time.

 

[bacillus]

the dell copy apparently looks for a dell bios string in the pc before it would install.
if it doesn't find one then it won't install.
one plus point is you don't need to activate the dell xp copy!