Old copies of XP Pro

[Bolivarted]

😎I have two old copies of XP Pro. One of them is SP1 the other is SP2. I also have an upgrade disc for SP2 (for the SP1 disc) How do I slipstream the SP1 cisc ? I have never done that trick before. How do I transfer the license without breaking the EULA? If it means paying Microsoft then ok. I have heard that Microsoft is selling licenses for XP Pro for about $1oo now that they will no longer be fully supporting XP. Is this true? I have checked the Microsoft site and have not found anything.
does anyone know?

 

[QuixoticOne]

Originally posted by: Bolivarted
😎I have two old copies of XP Pro. One of them is SP1 the other is SP2. I also have an upgrade disc for SP2 (for the SP1 disc) How do I slipstream the SP1 cisc ? I have never done that trick before. How do I transfer the license without breaking the EULA? If it means paying Microsoft then ok. I have heard that Microsoft is selling licenses for XP Pro for about $1oo now that they will no longer be fully supporting XP. Is this true? I have checked the Microsoft site and have not found anything.
does anyone know?

Transfer the license? Huh? Just install it on the target machine, and don't use it on another PC besides the one you want it on. No payment needed.

Here's some info on slipsteaming -- personally I'd be looking to slipstream SP3 in, not SP2, assuming they come out with SP3 within the next week or two.
http://www.winsupersite.com/sh...sxp_sp2_slipstream.asp
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp3_cd.htm

Here's XP SP3 RC2 which should be close enough for practical purposes if you're in a hurry and can't wait a few days / couple weeks for SP3 RTM:
http://www.microsoft.com/downl...62c68a7&DisplayLang=en
http://www.microsoft.com/downl...aa8c631%2frelnotes.htm

 

[QuixoticOne]

XP Pro prices?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...P+Professional&x=0&y=0
http://www.ewiz.com/query.php?...=10&anchor=#displaytop
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/Dee...PID=SOFTWARE-MICROSOFT
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...o=2571830&Sku=M17-7503
http://www.amazon.com/Microsof...&qid=1205958656&sr=1-3

I'm sure you could find equal or better prices if you shop around.

Frankly I'd look at VISTA BUSINESS since you apparently can get that less expensively, and it should be compatible with almost anything that runs on XP PRO, and you'd have your choice of 32 bit or 64 bit versions if you get a Vista Business Upgrade or Retail version.
($87 for the upgrade version or $131 for the full version here...)
http://www.techforless.com/cgi...AID=078613&mv_pc=vista

Also check eBay for reputable (be careful) options for either.

 

[Bolivarted]

Thank you for the advice and info QuixoticOne. One more question, do I register after the install?

 

[QuixoticOne]

Originally posted by: Bolivarted
Thank you for the advice and info QuixoticOne. One more question, do I register after the install?

Well there are two things possible
1) registration, which is where you voluntarily give them a name/address so they can uh... send you marketing materials maybe? Really it is not useful to do. Skip it.

2) Activation -- this is where you enter in the activation key code for your license (read it off of your printed certificate or key card for instance) into the software after you are finished installing the software / drivers / etc. and know things are working OK. You can/probably should wait like 29-30 days or so before you do activation to make sure everything is working OK. Once you decide to activate it'll let you either activate semi-automatically online if the system is set up to connect to the internet and has web access etc, or you can do it over the telephone. Activation is not optional in the sense that various updates and parts of the software itself won't work as well if you do not activate it beyond 30 days after you install it. This doesn't directly take any personal information from yourself, it just sort of associates the software license with the particular PC and installation it is running on. You can always uninstall the software in the future and move it if you need to, but if you do it too frequently (like more than a couple of times in a three month period) then the process to activate the new system involves some more red tape and a phone call etc. It will possibly want to re-activate if you change your system hardware configuration substantially like adding / deleting the main network interface, reformatting the hard disc, changing the amount of memory or type of CPU, etc. So try to get the system more or less set up the way you expect to leave it running for several weeks before you activate if that is not too inconvenient.

 

[Bolivarted]

Thanks again QuixoticOne, I'm going to try the SP1 slipstream version. Hope it goes well. I'd like to contact you or others you know in about a month or so when I activate the XP install. I'll use SP2 till after I activate just to make sure the machine is working.

 

[QuixoticOne]

Originally posted by: Bolivarted
Thanks again QuixoticOne, I'm going to try the SP1 slipstream version. Hope it goes well. I'd like to contact you or others you know in about a month or so when I activate the XP install. I'll use SP2 till after I activate just to make sure the machine is working.

Sounds good, good luck with the installs!

I expect I'll be around checking out the OS threads still in that timeframe, I've got a lot of OS installs / upgrades to do in about the same period and am trying to keep current with what's going on.

If you're near one of these free public events and have any interest, you can learn about their new versions of software and get a free copy of Vista Ultimate as well as some other good stuff too just for going:
http://www.microsoft.com/heroe.../register/default.mspx