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@Magnetiques74 wrote:

Hi,

I am new to this forum, so please be gentle...

I just got a Dell XP Pro Reinstallation CD from someone else and want to try to install on my new Dell Dimension 4600 3Mzh 512Mb 120GB Win XP Home preinstalled. Do I need his product key or I can use my original product key that came with my PC? Should I do upgrade or complete reinstallation? Do I need to format my drive to install Win XP Pro?

Thank you for the responses...

What you are proposing, using someone else's XP Pro Reinstall CD, is quite simply STEALING, and in violation of Microsoft's license agreement.   Microsoft's activation will prevent it.  Your product key is for Home, not Pro, and his is registered already. 

I was expecting to receive some explanations or technical answers and not accusations of doing something illegal.

 

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@Magnetiques74 wrote:

I was expecting to receive some explanations or technical answers and not accusations of doing something illegal.

No one was accusing you since you hadn't yet done it.  What you are proposing to do would violate Microsoft's license agreement.  Dell's Terms of Service for DellTalk prohibit any posts that "suggest or encourage illegal activity".  Hence, I didn't provide a technical answer on how to do something that is in violation of a legal agreement.  I said "proposing" to clarify that you hadn't done it, and assumed that you didn't realize that what you were proposing wasn't kosher. 

Magnetiques74,

Technical answer follows:

You do not need to format the hard disk before installing the new operating system. Formatting is done as a part of the installation process. Once the new operating system is installed you may enjoy it for ~30 days before the system shuts down completely because XP has not been activated. At that time you may do a clean install of the copy of XP currently on your computer.

The copy of XP you propose to install on your system is licensed for use only with the computer on which it was installed by Dell. It cannot be used on a another system.

Thank you for the responses, I got some ideas on what action I should take and what is kosher.

 

I am back with more Q's.

This is for Rick, Danny, and everyone else who answers posts.

I installed LEGAL Windows Server 2003 Standard Version on Dell Dimension 4600 and here are the problems I encontered. It seems majority of parts used by Dell are not complied with the MCL. Now I have a problem with graphics adapter, monitor is not recognized, nic is not recognized. These are the problems that I have identified sense installing Win Server 2003.

Do you have any suggestions other then formatting and installing original operating system?

Thank you all.

 

 

Magnetiques74,

From this document (emphasis mine):

"Dell’s process of working with Microsoft on the definition, implementation, testing and rollout of Windows Server 2003 will aid our customers who take advantage of Dell factory installed operating systems and drivers, as well as those customers who want to install their own operating system and drivers, but want the assurance that Dell has thoroughly tested, validated, certified and supports the Windows Server 2003 family on the Dell server and storage family of products."

It appears that reinstalling the original operating system is your only viable option.

thank Danny.

In other words what Dell is saying that they are not ready to support this operating system and you can try it at your own risk. The company is going down the drain. This is the first and last time I am buying brand name computer.

As I reviewed my installation from day before I have enconter some problems. I will address them after work by reinstalling again Windows Server 2003 from the scratch. Now with an extra disk that will have drivers(for W2k) for all hardware components.

I will keep working and posting until I will overcome this dilemma

I installed Standard Edition which does not have 64-bit support. I know it should work on basic machines because it was installed on older PCs (like Compaq) with no P4 3.0Mzh HT technology.

For your info. Here is the link to system requirements

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/sysreqs/default.mspx