[mitchshrader]

I've looked around and found *legitimate* *full* operating system cds @ 85$ for XP home, 135$ for XP pro, and if you can find any possible way to construe yourself as being enrolled, or teaching, at a tech school, high school, or college
there are EDU (discount) versions (full!) of OS & Office software.

HOWEVER! and this is veeery close to one edge of legitimate.. some online sites sell leftover licenses from multilicense packs, and all you get is a serial #. Documentation, the actual files, cute stickers for the computer, are your problem. I *think* it's legit. Sorta. If I was hunting such a thing i'd probably search google for 'discount software' .

This is Not the Unmentionable Transgression of failing to give billy money, which has been rumored to occur in undeveloped nations. For Shame!

And, just as an interesting aside.. Win2k is usually MORE expensive than XP pro.

I would assume the sellers have a good idea of the relative worth of their products. Leads to an interesting question. Why did they even Build a product worth less than the one it "replaced".. ? hmm?

This post has been edited by mitchshrader: 20 May 2004 - 11:27 PM

[2katholito]

Well, being a real newbie, I think you may have some answers for me.
Am running XP home 5.1 on a Dell Dimension8200. Has 128MB RAM and then says Page 186 MB use 119 Available.
From what you stated in the beginning, I need more RAM to keep going and that has bothered me for some months. I have no idea how to increase this. Any help out there??? Thanks

[jasper]

Just a quick question.
Until I joined this forum I had never heard of "Restore CD's" and of course that is what I have. BUT since buying this PC I have used them twice, so it has contacted Microsoft to register 3 times.
The question is, is there a limit on the amount of times it can be done?.
I know it may sound a stupid question but I seem to remember reading about someone having a problem about this somewhere.

[sights0d]

jasper, on May 31 2004, 02:58 PM, said:

Just a quick question.
Until I joined this forum I had never heard of "Restore CD's" and of course that is what I have. BUT since buying this PC I have used them twice, so it has contacted Microsoft to register 3 times.
The question is, is there a limit on the amount of times it can be done?.
I know it may sound a stupid question but I seem to remember reading about someone having a problem about this somewhere.

There was a problem with XP where if you altered your setup enough, it would require you to contact MS. Is that what you mean? I know people who wipe their comps every 2 months or so. No biggy. They just keep everything on removable disks.

[jasper]

Thank you sights0d for replying.
Yes that is what I meant. Is contacting MS a big deal? can it be done at the point where it (PC) contacts MS to check on regristration when you have re-loaded XP?. My first thought is that it is a good idea to wipe the comp fairly often, it will stop too much crap. But if you have to inform MS it seems like too much hasle.

[larrys]

Great info, Mitch. Question: After partitioning, where do you install the programs: on the drive with the OS or the "Data" drive? And...Is there a reason to be have the boot drive, the second partition (D) or did I miss understand? Thanks, from sunny and HOT Palm Springs, CA

[2katholito]

2katholito, on May 27 2004, 04:46 PM, said:

Well, being a real newbie, I think you may have some answers for me.
Am running XP home 5.1 on a Dell Dimension8200. Has 128MB RAM and then says Page 186 MB use 119 Available.
From what you stated in the beginning, I need more RAM to keep going and that has bothered me for some months. I have no idea how to increase this. Any help out there??? Thanks

Bump

[dave38]

Jasper,
Reinstalling WinXP on the same hardware is not a problem. it will reactivate over the net. If you change too much hardware at one go, there may be problems, and you would have to obtain a reactivation code by phone.
If you want to upgrade, do it one piece at a time!

2katholito, 128 meg of RAM is the absolute minimun for running (walking?) winXP.

I agree with Mich's original post here, 512 is about right, unless you are into high end video editing. WinXP can use all the RAM you throw at it.

Fitting more RAm is probably the easiest upgrade. Just buy the memory stick(s) and plug them in. I suggest that you visit the Crucial website, and see exactly what type/size of memory you need for your machine. If you buy from them, the warranty is good, and the instructions that come with it are good too!

[jasper]

Thanks Dave38,
That is a help to know that, I was beginning to wonder if it is worth occasionally to re-load XP from scratch (from recovery discs) to remove any potential problems. However since downloading Spywareguard, Spywareblaster, Ad-Aware, Spybot and IE-SPYAD I have had nothing lurking anywhere, HOPEFULLY.

[Freebird]

Mitch, excellent guide. Many thanx.

I still run '98, and I suppose, technically, it is a 'dual-boot' system (DOS ). The advice to get the OS CD, is probably the most important lesson I ever learned. And the option to boot to another OS, at least gives you a functioning PC. If you can't even reinstall the very heart of your machine, you are stuffed. I also think the advice to install a floppy drive, if you don't have one, is important.

Sadly, as Mitch pointed out, the needs of the customer are often overlooked in the desire for the salesperson to generate a sale, and is compunded by the fact that many high street computer outlets employ staff who know as much, or less about their products as the customer themselves.

[scrapetoe]

Nice post...
XP pro requires 128MB ram to run, so I find it hilarious that they actualy sell comps with xp and 128MB to consumers. I am not sure about XP home, but I think it requires the same. And who needs a recovery disc when you canhave system restore, which isinclude on both the home version and Pro version. I couldn't imagine not having the original disc...what a pain......

[Yomic]

Wow, this was extremely useful! I shall use this on my next purchace of a PC ^_^.

[Kentucki]

A word of thanks from a curious wannabe. (I'd say newbe but I've been trying to figure out the new Windows since 3.x!!! ) Really appreciate all the time you guys put into this site.

[oldduke]

IMO: I've had two Compaq desktops and a Compaq laptop. None came with a full OS CD; the laptop didn't have any CD. On the laptop Win98 system ad-ons I invariably got "do this, then insert the Windows 98 CD" -- like when I tried to install Bellsouth Fastaccess!!!!!!. The others can't support a disk reformat. I'm sure it's a way M$ controlls its $ cow. I also worked for a large government agency that bought a license for hundreds of Windows NTs; M$ sent ONLY 1 MANUAL! Pulleeze! I'm now waiting for a fourth computer that I'm having built that will come with -- quote -- all original system disquettes. >>>>>>The software is the weak link. Burn this fact onto the surface of your brain.

I'm not real smart on all this stuff, but my experience says: read up, smarten up, and have a good geek build it from the proessor up. Don'g buy off the shelf. If you absolutely, positively need a computer right now, get the cheapest you can find, smarten up real fast, and when it craps out -- which won't be very long -- have one built. If your time is worth a nickle an hour, you'll save money.

[Jumper]

I worked for a computer manufacturer for a number of years, left cause they were going the way of "Get them in, sell them more then they need and then push them out the door and hope to never see them again until they need a new computer"

Anyway, I noticed that many of the people I spoke with wanted a solitare, typewriter system that they can look at 4 websites and send email only. But then they started talking about editing videos and pictures and music, but didn't know how to do it. But they wanted a system that could do it someday if they chose to do it and they wanted to spend $350, cause thats what the low end EMachines were selling for across the street at Costco. Its hard to explain to people that have no understanding of computers that what they want to do can not be done on the $350 system.

I wish people would do some sort of investigating and know what it is they want a computer to do, and what is going to be neccessary (component wise) for the computer to do that. And I fully agree, don't buy a box off the shelf, go for a manufacturer that gives you build options (and a full OS disk)