Windows XP Question

[acetnt367th]

I bought a PC almost two years ago and unfortunately it did not come with a windows xp cd. Instead it came with system restore CD instead. This CD checks my bios, so I have to reinstall the original (old) bios, everytime I want to reinstall my software. The restore CD image also comes with a lot of other installed software that I just do not use.

My Question is. Can I copy my sisters XP CD to reinstall xp but retain my license? I dont see why I must purchase ANOTHER copy of win XP just so I can do a clean install.


Help anyone


Thanx

Acetnt

[Skuzzy]

Each CD of XP has the unlock key imbedded with it and requires the original CD key to unlock/register.

Take care, as registering the same copy of XP, from two different systems, could make the CD legally worthless in short order.

[MOIL]

If you have the license for WinXP home on your computer, you can use whatever "CD" you want to load it. You just have to use "your" license for activation & registration. WinXP home is WinXP home, does not matter if it came from Dell, Compaq or Gateway.
Microsoft just want's to make sure your  loading the O.S. to only one workstation.
Microsoft: "In general, Windows XP is licensed for use on a single PC. It cannot be installed on more than one PC without purchasing additional licenses. It can be re-installed and activated on the same PC an unlimited number of times"

[Skuzzy]

MOIL, the currently released XP OEM CD's I have will not accept the product key from another XP OEM CD.

Granted, there are about 28 different versions of XP Pro in the market right now, so anything is possible.

[MOIL]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
MOIL, the currently released XP OEM CD's I have will not accept the product key from another XP OEM CD.

Granted, there are about 28 different versions of XP Pro in the market right now, so anything is possible.

I assumed we were talking about WinXP home {I know, i know that's what I get for ass-suming}
The only time that this will pose a problem is if the O.S. CD is Pre service pak 1 installation CD.
There is NOT 28 or so versions of XP Pro on the market the differance is on how they are licensed. Sorry skuzzy
There is only 3 licensing merthods for XP Pro and Home.

[Skuzzy]

Clarification, there are about 28 different builds of XP Pro on the market.

The latest one is pretty nice.  Default installs with only 18 processes running with several of the more obnoxious ones being completely removed from the OS.

This is how I found out about the licensing issue.  I had several licenses laying about and tried to use 3 different ones (all XP Pro OEM licenses) after installing.  It would not accept the other licenses.
Could be unique to this latest release.  I never really tried it before.

[MOIL]

Wrong again, there is NO multiple versions or "builds" of XP Pro, except for the service pak.
I do not want to get into a debate with you and I do not want anyone getting in trouble over licenses or installations.
Here's one of the #'s that can help you understand and remove the myths & pitfalls of MS operating systems and licensing.
1-800-785-3448

[Skuzzy]

MOIL, I am going by the build numbers I have accumulated over the last couple of years since XP came out.

I have one copy of XP Pro with SP1 which needs about 19 critical updates.
I have another copy of XP Pro with SP1 which needs about 5 critical updates.
These are different.  No reason to call someone if I have the physical CD's in my hands that are different.

I am not going to get into it with you either.  I have CD's that are stamped from physically different masters, with different version/build numbers in various locations of the software.

[acetnt367th]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the responses.

I am actually referring to Win XP Home. I do not want to install my winxp copy on multiple pcs. I plan to install it on the same pc that it was bought with. The only reason I wanted to use my sister's original xp cd was so I could have a clean install, not like what I get with the restore CD. I will reuse my original license. The reason I ask this question is to see if this would work and if it was legal?

I do not want illegal stuff on my machine.

Skuzzy / Moil - am I right in thinking now that this will work with XP home?


Thanks again

Acetnt

[Skuzzy]

XP Home,..DOH!  Ok MOIL, your assumption was correct and I was in left field.

I steer clear of XP Home, so MOIL might be able to answer better.

[Modas]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
XP Home,..DOH!  Ok MOIL, your assumption was correct and I was in left field.

I steer clear of XP Home, so MOIL might be able to answer better.

Skuzzy -

Any particular reason for avoiding XP home?  I'm looking to upgrade from WIN98SE and was planning on getting XP home as I "thought" the only difference with XP pro was some additional networking features, which I don't care about.

Am I incorrect here?

Thanks!

[Skuzzy]

XP Home actually appears to have everything XP Pro has, but the controls and access to various items is missing from XP Home that are in Pro.
MOIL, you use XP Home?

[MOIL]

Regardless of XP Home or XP Pro, there are still only 3 different licensing methods...

OEM, Retail, Volume.

Of course, there are Pre-SP1 licenses, and then of course, SP1 licenses for each of these 3 methods.

With that said, acetnt367th:

If your computer is proprietary (DELL,Gateway,Sony,HP...etc), and your sisters computer is not, there might be an issue.  This is because you got a Volume license, and unless your sister has the same computer brand, she probally has a OEM or Retail license.

But, this is all information I will need before we can say 100% for sure that her CD and your license will work together.

So, what kind of computer do you have, and what kind does she have?

Also, what do the CD's look like and say on them?

Most proprietary systems will say (example):
 - "DELL Recover CD"
or
 - "HP Re-Installation CD"
or
 - "Compaq - Windows XP Home Re-Installation Disc".

Then theres the regular Microsoft (OEM/Retail) CD's that say "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition".  Pre-SP1 CD's are silver and SP1 CD's are gold.  Both have the windows logo and alot of translucent text on them.

Post this information and we can quickly determine if they will work together or not.

To answer your question about legalities... No, using a regular CD instead of a propietary CD will not breach any policies or contracts stated by microsoft, as long as you use your personal license provided with the computer you purchased.

No, I do not use XP Home.  XP Corp aka Pro w/o Activation

[MOIL]

Windows XP Home Edition includes a number of enhancements over Windows 2000 Professional. These include:

 - Improved software (application) and hardware compatibility
 - Simplified security
 - Simplified log-on featuring new "welcome" screen
 - Fast user switching
 - A new user interface featuring context-sensitive, task-oriented Web views
 - Enhanced support for digital media (movies, pictures, music)
 - DirectX 8.1 multimedia libraries for gaming

Professional Edition: Superset of Home Edition[/U]

At its most basic level, XP Professional is a business- and power-user oriented superset of Home Edition. Because this orientation, it includes features that wouldn't be appropriate, or would be too complex, for the typical home user. The most obvious difference is security, which is vastly simplified in Home Edition. Each interactive user in XP Home is assumed to be a member of the Owners local group, which is the Windows XP equivalent of the Windows 2000 Administrator account: This means that anyone who logs on to a Home Edition machine has full control. Likewise, the Backup Operators, Power Users, and Replicator groups from Windows 2000/XP Pro are missing from Home Edition, and a new group, called Restricted Users, is added. Hidden administrative shares (C$, etc.) are also unavailable in Home Edition.

The following features are not present in Windows XP Home Edition.

Power user

Remote Desktop - All versions of Windows XP--including Home Edition--support Remote Assistance, which is an assisted support technology that allows a help desk or system administrator to remotely connect to a client desktop for troubleshooting purposes. But Only Pro supports the new Remote Desktop feature, which is a single-session version of Terminal Services with two obvious uses: Mobile professionals who need to remotely access their corporate desktop, and remote administration of clients on a network. You can access a Windows XP Remote Desktop from any OS that supports a Terminal Services client (such as Windows 98 and, interestingly XP Home). XP Home can act as the client in a Remote Desktop session; only Pro can be the server.

Multi-processor support - Windows XP Pro supports up to two microprocessors, while Home Edition supports only one.
Automated System Recovery (ASR) - In a somewhat controversial move, Microsoft has removed the Backup utility from the default Windows XP Home Edition, though it is available as an optional installation if you can find it on the CD-ROM (hint: it's in the /valueadd folder). The reason for this the integration of Microsoft's new Automated System Recovery (ASR) tool into Backup. In Pro, ASR will help recover a system from a catastrophic error, such as one that renders the system unbootable. ASR-enabled backups are triggerable from XP Setup, allowing you to return your system to its previous state, even if the hard drive dies and has to be replaced. Unlike consumer-oriented features such as System Restore, ASR is not automatic: It must manually be enabled from within the Backup utility in Windows XP Pro. In any event, while there is a Backup utility available for Home Edition, you cannot use ASR, even though mentions of this feature still exist in the UI. Confusing? Yes. But it's better than no Backup at all, which was the original plan.

Dynamic Disk Support - Windows XP Professional (like its Windows 2000 equivalent) supports dynamic disks, but Home Edition does not (instead, HE supports only the standard Simple Disk type). Dynamic disks are not usable with any OS other than Windows 2000 or Windows XP Pro, and they cannot be used on portable computers. Likewise, Home Edition does not include the Logical Disk Manager.

Fax - Home Edition has no integrated fax functionality out of the box, though it is an option you can install from the XP Home CD.
Internet Information Services/Personal Web Server - Home Edition does not include the IIS Web server 5.1 software found in Pro.

Security

Encrypting File System - Windows XP Professional supports the Encrypting File System (EFS), which allows you encrypt individual files or folders for local security (EFS is not enabled over a network). EFS-protected files and folders allows users to protect sensitive documents from other users.

File-level access control - Any user with Administrator privileges can limit access to certain network resources, such as servers, directories, and files, using access control lists. Only Windows XP Professional supports file-level access control, mostly because this feature is typically implemented through Group Policy Objects, which are also not available in Home Edition.

"C2" certification - Microsoft will attempt to have Windows XP Professional certified with the "C2" security designation, a largely irrelevant status, but one which will not be afforded to Home Edition.

Management [/U]

Domain membership - Home Edition cannot be used to logon to an Active Directory domain. For obvious reasons, the Domain Wizard is also missing in Home Edition.

Group Policy - Since Home Edition cannot be used to logon to an Active Directory domain, Group Policy--whereby applications, network resources, and operating systems are administered for domain users--is not supported either.

IntelliMirror - Microsoft lumps a wide range of semi-related change and configuration management technologies under the IntelliMirror umbrella, and none of these features are supported in the consumer oriented Home Edition. IntelliMirror capabilities include user data management; centrally-managed software installation, repair, updating, and removal; user settings management; and Remote Installation Services (RIS), which allows administrators to remotely install the OS on client systems.
Roaming profiles - This feature allows users to logon to any computer in an Active Directory network and automatically receive their customized settings. It is not available in Home Edition, which cannot logon to an Active Directory domain.

Corporate deployment

Multi-language support - Only Windows XP Professional will ship in a Multi-Language version or support multiple languages in a single install.

Sysprep support - Windows XP Pro will support the System Preparation (Sysprep) utility, while Home Edition will not.
RIS support - See the IntelliMirror heading in the previous section; Home Edition does not support RIS deployments.

64-bit Edition[/U]

Microsoft is shipping a 64-bit version of Windows XP for Intel Itanium systems that mirrors the Professional Edition feature-set.
Networking features

The following networking features are not included in Home Edition:

 - The user interface for IPSecurity (IPSec)
 - SNMP
 - Simple TCP/IP services
 - SAP Agent
 - Client Service for NetWare
 - Network Monitor
 - Multiple Roaming feature
 - User interface features

Windows XP Home Edition has some different default settings that affect the user interface. For example, Guest logon is on by default in Home, but off in Pro. The Address bar in Explorer windows is on in Pro by default, but off in Home. During the beta period, Microsoft had intended to use a business-oriented shell theme ("Professional") by default in Pro and the "Luna" consumer theme in Home Edition. But feedback from corporate users suggested that everyone liked the consumer-oriented Luna theme better, and development of the Professional theme was cancelled. Other user interface features that are present in Pro but not Home include:

Client-side caching

Administrative Tools option on the Start menu (a subset of the Admin tools are still present in Home, however).


It's also worth mentioning that Home Edition will support upgrades from Windows 98, 98 SE, and Millennium Edition (Me), but not from Windows 95, NT 4.0 Workstation, or Windows 2000 Professional. You can upgrade from Windows 98, 98 SE, Millennium Edition (Me), Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, or Windows 2000 Professional to Windows XP Professional.

Deciding which edition to buy is simple: Peruse the above list and decide whether you can live without any of these features. If you can't, then you're going to want to get Professional. Otherwise, save $100 and get Home Edition. Note that Microsoft is offering a less-expensive Professional "Step-Up" upgrade for Home users that wish to move to XP Pro.

[acetnt367th]

Hello Moil,

Thanks for your replies,


I have an emachines computer with the restore CD. My sister has an OEM Win XP CD. I built her machine (cry - did not do that for myself) and bought  the OEM copy of XP with a motherboard/cpu at newegg.

So I guess it may not work?

I recently upgraded my bios & video card and was prompted to reactivate windows. I use the license sticker on my computer and was able to activate without problems. It is not good that I may have to repurchase windows xp to install on the same machine.

The reason for all these questions is I would like to swap my motherboards and wanted a clean xp install.

Thanks again

Regards

Acetnt