XP From Vista

[Nomoreheroes]

I know that there are a few techie types here so wondered if you can help?

Bought the father-in-law a cheap laptop a few months ago that came with Vista. He's having a bit of a job getting used to it and I've found it incredibly slow.

So, as a solution, I thought that I would put XP on instead (He's used to it from his pc and I assume that XP doesn't hog resorces like Vista?).

I have an XP Home Edition disk from my pc and assume that all I need to do is to insert the XP disk, get the laptop to boot from disk and then follow prompts to install. Is this correct or is there more to it than that?

Thanks,
NMH

[Dazzza]

Si is probably the best man but you'll need a license key otherwise it will plague the hell out of you and you can’t download the updates.

I got mine off ebay but they appear to be clamping down on it nowadays.  I was looking for one for a colleague and the listing was removed after a few hours

[Nomoreheroes]

I have a licence with the XP disk - Tis the one I use on this pc.

NMH

[Dazzza]

I have a licence with the XP disk - Tis the one I use on this pc.

NMH

The problem is when you register XP with Microsoft it creates an algorithm based on your computer’s hardware and will not allow that license to register again on a PC/laptop with a different spec.  

I think there are ways and means around it but it’s a bit of a headache and not foolproof at the end of the day.

[STFC_Gazzza]

YOu have to acquire a licence key for multiple pcs i think?

[sonic youth]

iirc any machine will accept a valid licence key but the issue only arises if you let M$ authenticate your genuine copy of xp...

[Sippo]

Correct mate. Just don't install the validation tool if you do a windows update.

[Simon Pieman]

The problem will arise when you come to activate it.

When I re-installed XP on my computer it detected so many different hardware changes I had to ring them to activate it. It's going to know that it's different hardware.

[otanswell]

Download one from a torrent site and get an activation crack. Mine works fine, can get updates and everything with it.

[Barry Scott]

If it's XP home Corp, no vaidation needs to take place, as with Pro Corp.

Is it SP2 or SP1? I only ask because i believe i have a crack which removes validation on pre SP2 installs.

You'll also run into a few problems with drivers, i recently downgraded an HP to XP and couldn't, for love nor money, get a wireless driver or soundcard driver? wtf?

You also find that once the full install is completed including any drivers, you have a device listed in Device Manager, which doesn't serve any purpose on any machines other than vista. It lists itself as PCI device, but is bizarrely nothing. Probably has something to do with their bollocks piracy prevention on Vista.

On the abve machine i installed Ubuntu instead and it worked straight out of the box! :shock: The owner, fortunately, preferred it and kept that. Nice.

I'm currently setting up an FTP server with my NAS at home, i have every version of windows ever including Bob, their serials and ISOs. If i get my arse in gear and sort this out, and of course if you're interested, i could provide you with my ftp to download one of the corporate versions?

[Lumps]

Barry makes me feel like some sort of Neanderthal. I have no fucking idea what any of that means.

[Power to people]

If it's XP home Corp, no vaidation needs to take place, as with Pro Corp.

Is it SP2 or SP1? I only ask because i believe i have a crack which removes validation on pre SP2 installs.

You'll also run into a few problems with drivers, i recently downgraded an HP to XP and couldn't, for love nor money, get a wireless driver or soundcard driver? wtf?

You also find that once the full install is completed including any drivers, you have a device listed in Device Manager, which doesn't serve any purpose on any machines other than vista. It lists itself as PCI device, but is bizarrely nothing. Probably has something to do with their bollocks piracy prevention on Vista.

On the abve machine i installed Ubuntu instead and it worked straight out of the box! :shock: The owner, fortunately, preferred it and kept that. Nice.

I'm currently setting up an FTP server with my NAS at home, i have every version of windows ever including Bob, their serials and ISOs. If i get my arse in gear and sort this out, and of course if you're interested, i could provide you with my ftp to download one of the corporate versions?

Or you could just get a MVL from your previous employer and install it  

[jayohaitchenn]

thats what i do!

[Peter Venkman]

XP Home contrary to popular belief can be installed in up to 3 different spec PC's without problem, so use the XP disk and code that you are using on the current PC, no problemos.

[Nomoreheroes]

Thanks for your help guys. A friend suggested dual booting and gave me this link:

http://apcmag.com/5485/dualbooting_vista_and_xp

Not sure what to do now?

for the time being I have installed a nex verion of ZA that works for Vista so the F-in-law is happy to try it again now for a bit.

NMH