Well, I believe there is a legal problem. The Product Keys belong to the machine with which they shipped, and only certain, special PK's can be used for downgrade rights. Those PK's can only be used for one or the other - they cannot be used simultaneously. So if the PK is used for XP, it cannot be used for Windows 7. And, the Product Key from the other XP machine will not work for Windows 7.
Actually, you can forget my whole post, as I missed a key part of your post. You want to use it to install on a non-Dell computer.
This will not work. OEM disks will look for an OEM signature before allowing the install. Also the XP Product Key cannot be used to activate Windows 7. Keys/media from different OEM's (Dell, HP, Gateway, etc.) are not compatible.
Seems the most good this will do me is get my computer back up and running. The whole reason I am doing this is the non-dell desktop has crashed on me, and its going to meed a full reinstall. I figured this was a good time to put windows 7 on it.
So, everything should work ok, and get me going for 30 days at least though? I would like if I can at least use the disk to do the install, then within 30 days buy another win 7 key. Any legit key should work, correct? Or, is it going to be wanting some special Dell key?
No legally the W7 upgrade disk is intended only for the original system it was purchased with. Now having said that if your other system is a Dell it may upgrade with little trouble (of coure depending on it's age and driver status for W7). On the other hand if the other system is a non-Dell system then you cannot legally use the upgrade disk as it is intended for a Dell application and therefore will not activate (Dell activation is tied to the bios). If you do try it will start asking for a system key at 30 days after install. If you do not input a legitimate key then eventually you will increasingly lose functionallity. FYI W7 packages have been selling for as little as $40.00 on many buy and sell computer forums. Good Luck.
That depends on the type of "upgrade" disk. If it is a Microsoft upgrade disk, you can upgrade any qualifying OS on any machine. If it is a Dell-branded upgrade disk, my experience with OEM media is that it will not work on a non-Dell machine. If it does, you will probably have to activate it using a valid Dell PK, as Retail and OEM PK's are not interchangeable. This is all theoretical on my part, as I haven't done this myself, so I hope it works out for you.
Not necessarily ... a dual-core (or greater) is not required to have a good experience with Windows 7. I have Windows 7 running on my wife's XPS Gen 4 with a single-core (granted, it's running at 3.4GHz), 3GB RAM, and stock 256MB nVidia graphics ... and it runs like a dream.
That's a pretty strong 4 to be running at that clock speed. I think mine is at 2.4 GHZ. Plus, I can't go over 1.5 GB of RDRAM on my 8250. I lost the use of my printer and scanner as well. There were no drivers or alternate drivers for each. I still think he should stay with XP.
Maybe my new virus protection is making it worse. The poor performance and lock ups seem to have increased since I changed from McAfee to Norton. Though, the guy at Microcenter told me it was because I didn't have a dual core processor.
I paid a pretty penny for it :) If you are looking to put Windows 7 on your XPS G4, just know the game port on the sound card is not supported in Windows 7. It wasn't a big deal for me, so I just disabled the game port.
jtrotto:
If you are interested in upgrading ... what system do you have? Regardless, I would run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor first, which will give you an idea what hardware/software you might run into problems with when upgrading.
theflash1932
9 Legend
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16.3K Posts
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March 26th, 2010 12:00
Well, I believe there is a legal problem. The Product Keys belong to the machine with which they shipped, and only certain, special PK's can be used for downgrade rights. Those PK's can only be used for one or the other - they cannot be used simultaneously. So if the PK is used for XP, it cannot be used for Windows 7. And, the Product Key from the other XP machine will not work for Windows 7.
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
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March 26th, 2010 12:00
Actually, you can forget my whole post, as I missed a key part of your post. You want to use it to install on a non-Dell computer.
This will not work. OEM disks will look for an OEM signature before allowing the install. Also the XP Product Key cannot be used to activate Windows 7. Keys/media from different OEM's (Dell, HP, Gateway, etc.) are not compatible.
Sorry for the confusion.
jtrotto
7 Posts
0
March 26th, 2010 12:00
Thanks for the help guys.
Seems the most good this will do me is get my computer back up and running.
The whole reason I am doing this is the non-dell desktop has crashed on me, and its going to meed a full reinstall.
I figured this was a good time to put windows 7 on it.
So, everything should work ok, and get me going for 30 days at least though?
I would like if I can at least use the disk to do the install, then within 30 days buy another win 7 key.
Any legit key should work, correct? Or, is it going to be wanting some special Dell key?
~John
DCX4EVER
288 Posts
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March 26th, 2010 12:00
No legally the W7 upgrade disk is intended only for the original system it was purchased with. Now having said that if your other system is a Dell it may upgrade with little trouble (of coure depending on it's age and driver status for W7). On the other hand if the other system is a non-Dell system then you cannot legally use the upgrade disk as it is intended for a Dell application and therefore will not activate (Dell activation is tied to the bios). If you do try it will start asking for a system key at 30 days after install. If you do not input a legitimate key then eventually you will increasingly lose functionallity. FYI W7 packages have been selling for as little as $40.00 on many buy and sell computer forums. Good Luck.
theflash1932
9 Legend
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16.3K Posts
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March 26th, 2010 13:00
That depends on the type of "upgrade" disk. If it is a Microsoft upgrade disk, you can upgrade any qualifying OS on any machine. If it is a Dell-branded upgrade disk, my experience with OEM media is that it will not work on a non-Dell machine. If it does, you will probably have to activate it using a valid Dell PK, as Retail and OEM PK's are not interchangeable. This is all theoretical on my part, as I haven't done this myself, so I hope it works out for you.
theflash1932
9 Legend
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16.3K Posts
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April 7th, 2011 15:00
Not necessarily ... a dual-core (or greater) is not required to have a good experience with Windows 7. I have Windows 7 running on my wife's XPS Gen 4 with a single-core (granted, it's running at 3.4GHz), 3GB RAM, and stock 256MB nVidia graphics ... and it runs like a dream.
davidkath26
2 Posts
0
April 8th, 2011 08:00
That's a pretty strong 4 to be running at that clock speed. I think mine is at 2.4 GHZ. Plus, I can't go over 1.5 GB of RDRAM on my 8250. I lost the use of my printer and scanner as well. There were no drivers or alternate drivers for each. I still think he should stay with XP.
davidkath26
2 Posts
0
April 8th, 2011 08:00
Maybe my new virus protection is making it worse. The poor performance and lock ups seem to have increased since I changed from McAfee to Norton. Though, the guy at Microcenter told me it was because I didn't have a dual core processor.
theflash1932
9 Legend
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16.3K Posts
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April 8th, 2011 09:00
I paid a pretty penny for it :) If you are looking to put Windows 7 on your XPS G4, just know the game port on the sound card is not supported in Windows 7. It wasn't a big deal for me, so I just disabled the game port.
jtrotto:
If you are interested in upgrading ... what system do you have? Regardless, I would run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor first, which will give you an idea what hardware/software you might run into problems with when upgrading.