Installing a new OS, but have ?

[Molock via WindowsKB.com]

I know just enough about computers to be dangerous - that's why I'm turning
to you

Okay, after facing public ridicule for still being on Win2K, we're going to
get XP Pro. I've read dozens of articles about which version, licensing, etc.
and I still have questions.

Our Win2K disk has been used about 1/2 a dozen times, if not more. We've
changed out every bit of hardware, twice, since getting the disk back in 'the
olden days'. How is it that we've been able to successfully install and run
2000 on 2 computers, but 'technically' would have to get 2 XP packages in
order to switch? An OEM version is affordable, but only if we plan to keep
our current hardware forever - not.

Our home system is networked with 2 units. Is there a way to open the
network while installing XP on the main system and do a simultaneous install
on the second one?

--
Message posted via http://www.windowskb.com

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Molock via WindowsKB.com wrote:
> I know just enough about computers to be dangerous - that's why I'm
> turning
> to you
>
> Okay, after facing public ridicule for still being on Win2K, we're
> going to get XP Pro. I've read dozens of articles about which
> version, licensing, etc. and I still have questions.
>
> Our Win2K disk has been used about 1/2 a dozen times, if not more.
> We've changed out every bit of hardware, twice, since getting the
> disk back in 'the olden days'. How is it that we've been able to
> successfully install and run 2000 on 2 computers, but 'technically'
> would have to get 2 XP packages in order to switch? An OEM version
> is affordable, but only if we plan to keep our current hardware
> forever - not.

Windows 2000 did not have the software guards (activation, WGA, etc) that
Windows XP and later OSes have that prevent you from breaking the agreement
and running more copies of the OS than you had purchased the rights to do.
The agreement (for Windows Operating Systems) has always been the same. You
purchase one license, you get to utilize that one license on one machine.

In the case of OEM versions - those are special license agreements. A few
things are different - but one thing is that once you install Windows XP OEM
onto a computer - in accordance with the agreement - you cannot ever
seperate it from that original computer. If you purchase a retail version -
you do not have that issue.

> Our home system is networked with 2 units. Is there a way to open
> the network while installing XP on the main system and do a
> simultaneous install on the second one?

I have no idea what that means.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

"Molock via WindowsKB.com" <u25786@uwe> wrote in message
news:7ceb4992193d4@uwe...
>I know just enough about computers to be dangerous - that's why I'm turning
> to you
>
> Okay, after facing public ridicule for still being on Win2K, we're going
> to
> get XP Pro. I've read dozens of articles about which version, licensing,
> etc.
> and I still have questions.
>
> Our Win2K disk has been used about 1/2 a dozen times, if not more. We've
> changed out every bit of hardware, twice, since getting the disk back in
> 'the
> olden days'. How is it that we've been able to successfully install and
> run
> 2000 on 2 computers, but 'technically' would have to get 2 XP packages in
> order to switch? An OEM version is affordable, but only if we plan to
> keep
> our current hardware forever - not.
>
> Our home system is networked with 2 units. Is there a way to open the
> network while installing XP on the main system and do a simultaneous
> install
> on the second one?
>
> --
> Message posted via http://www.windowskb.com
>

Ask the ridiculers what key advantages there are in moving
from Win2000 to WinXP. I suspect they might be struggling
when trying to answer your question. In other words, while
WinXP has a number of improvements, Win2000 is a perfectly
useable and very stable operating system.

Your note implies that you currently have one Win2000 licence
and that you use it on two PCs, in violation of the licence
agreement. This will no longer work for WinXP: You must
purchase two licences. On each machine you will have two
choices:
- Install it from scratch (preferred), or
- Perform an upgrade.
Remember to back up your important files, including your
EMail files, before you move to WinXP. And yes, you
must do a test recovery of your backed up files to convince
yourself that they are useable!

About your mystifying Subject line of "Re: Installing a new OS,
but have ?": What are you actually trying to say?

 

[Poprivet`]

Molock via WindowsKB.com wrote:
> I know just enough about computers to be dangerous -
> that's why I'm turning
> to you
>
> Okay, after facing public ridicule for still being on
> Win2K, we're going to get XP Pro. I've read dozens
> of
> articles about which version, licensing, etc. and I
> still
> have questions.

"Ridicule" is a poor reason to be changing Operating
Systems. If win2k is doing everything you need, you
have no problems, and don't know of any specific
advantages XP will give you, then you should resist
going to XP in your case.
It's like Vista: Perceived/real problems aside, I
see nothing in it I need or even want, so I am not
going to switch to it. The only reason I switched from
win98 in fact, was because programs I needed for my
consulting efforts weren't available to run on 98. But
by that time, win2k came out, and then XP, so I
switched to XP when I started having problems sourcing
98 programs I needed.
I'm doing the same with Vista. There is absolutely
nothing in it I can find that I want or need. So I'll
wait to see what the next version after Vista is about;
it's already in the queue and has a tentative schedule.
So unless MS somehow figures out how to yank the rug
out from under me, I'll never see Vista. And, I may
not anyway since if prices keep rising like they are, I
believe I have enough background now to switch to Linux
flavors and just forget MS altogether. I'd have
started doing that already except I have some
specialized software for which there are no decent
drivers yet. Yet being the operative word there.

>
> Our Win2K disk has been used about 1/2 a dozen times,
> if
> not more. We've changed out every bit of hardware,
> twice, since getting the disk back in 'the olden
> days'.

If you were running more than one copy of win2k on more
than one computer, then you were violating your
license. Because so many people did install them to
multiple computers and ignored the licenses, MS devised
a way to more completely enforce their long-standing
license conditions and that was made part of XP. If
you want to use XP on more than one machine, you'll
almost certainly be forced to have a separate license
for each one.

> How is it that we've been able to successfully
> install
> and run 2000 on 2 computers, but 'technically' would
> have
> to get 2 XP packages in order to switch? An OEM
> version
> is affordable, but only if we plan to keep our
> current
> hardware forever - not.

Nothing new there except that MS has begun to enforce
their licenses. You were running "pirated" software on
the second machine with win2k; it won't easily work
with XP at all.
>
> Our home system is networked with 2 units. Is there
> a
> way to open the network while installing XP on the
> main
> system and do a simultaneous install on the second
> one?

No. Two machines = 2 licenses. You *could* have one
machine XP and the other win2k, and network them.
Maybe that would work for you.
"Activation" is the stage where you'll have the
problems with getting XP to work for longer than the
grace period on multiple machines. You can only have
one install on one machine per license unless you buy a
larger number of seats for it.

HTH

Pop`

 

[Molock via WindowsKB.com]

About your mystifying Subject line of "Re: Installing a new OS,
but have ?": What are you actually trying to say?

I didn't realize the message was obtuse. I simply didn't understand some
things about moving from one OS to a newer one. I do appreciate the detailed
explanations, though.

As far as 'the ridicule': some has been from folks on these boards! Win2000
actually has been doing all we needed, but a few months ago I installed
AutoCad 2008 (student) on my unit. All was well for a couple of months, but
I think the new program and our TrendMicro are in conflict. Each loads its
own registry changes and it appears that somewhere down the line the registry
became corrupted.

We felt that the dearth of current support for 2000, and MS's decision to
cease all support in the next year or so, was reason enough to upgrade to a
newer OS.

And, I really didn't know we were in violation of licensing! My DH got the
disk from MS when he was more active in building systems for work; he
registered as an OEM and got the disk, and other software, totally free.

--
Message posted via WindowsKB.com
http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/windowsxp/200712/1

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

> And, I really didn't know we were in violation of licensing! My DH got
> the
> disk from MS when he was more active in building systems for work; he
> registered as an OEM and got the disk, and other software, totally free.

A rather naive attitude. Neither the software nor the music nor the
publishing
industry are in the habit of giving their intellectual property away for
free,
no matter how little it costs to manufacture an extra copy. If you got all
your software totally free then you are obviously in breach of the licensing
agreements that are printed on the various packages and displayed
prominently
on the screen during installation. Unfortunately for you, the courts won't
accept ignorance as an excuse - they point out that you clicked the "Yes,
I have read and understood the above agreement".

About your Subject line: You broke off in mid-sentence, leaving
everyone wondering what you were trying to say.

 

[Molock via WindowsKB.com]

Alrighty, I accept my naivety is problematic. However, we'll be legal from
now on, out of shame or necessity.

But about the many versions? Pro seems to offer a multitude of plusses,
except for the price. In my searches I found a full version, with SP2 ,
advertised as 'Promo'. In the small print it says License type - full;
license pricing - media and documentation set.

Could someone explain the latter? Do we have to purchase a separate license
for those portions, or is it included? And most important, is a Promo
version any different from a full retail version? (I know we won't get
manuals or a box.)

Since we have to buy two, the price of $104.95 (ea) is more in our budget.

--
Message posted via WindowsKB.com
http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/windowsxp/200712/1

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Molock via WindowsKB.com wrote:
> I know just enough about computers to be dangerous - that's why I'm turning
> to you
>
> Okay, after facing public ridicule for still being on Win2K, we're going to
> get XP Pro. I've read dozens of articles about which version, licensing, etc.
> and I still have questions.
>
> Our Win2K disk has been used about 1/2 a dozen times, if not more. We've
> changed out every bit of hardware, twice, since getting the disk back in 'the
> olden days'. How is it that we've been able to successfully install and run
> 2000 on 2 computers, but 'technically' would have to get 2 XP packages in
> order to switch?


Because you did so (on Win2K) by violating the EULA. Win2K had no
copy-protection built-in; Microsoft relied on the honor system to
prevent software piracy. When that policy proved overly "optimistic,"
Microsoft implemented Product Activation to deter casual piracy such as
you had been practicing.


> An OEM version is affordable, but only if we plan to keep
> our current hardware forever - not.
>
> Our home system is networked with 2 units. Is there a way to open the
> network while installing XP on the main system and do a simultaneous install
> on the second one?
>


Not unless you have a domain controller and a lot of specialized
knowledge from which to manage the migration, no.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Ghostrider]

Molock via WindowsKB.com wrote:

> Alrighty, I accept my naivety is problematic. However, we'll be legal from
> now on, out of shame or necessity.
>
> But about the many versions? Pro seems to offer a multitude of plusses,
> except for the price. In my searches I found a full version, with SP2 ,
> advertised as 'Promo'. In the small print it says License type - full;
> license pricing - media and documentation set.
>
> Could someone explain the latter? Do we have to purchase a separate license
> for those portions, or is it included? And most important, is a Promo
> version any different from a full retail version? (I know we won't get
> manuals or a box.)
>
> Since we have to buy two, the price of $104.95 (ea) is more in our budget.
>

Before buying anything, one needs to be very clear on how Windows XP
is going to be used and installed. Firstly, there are two basic versions:
Home and Pro. Secondly, for each, there are the retail and OEM versions.
Straight retail is straight-forward; no restrictions other than what is
mentioned in the license. OTOH, OEM has a different number of flavors,
the most useful of which is the Microsoft OEM version for "computers
without operating systems". And OEM versions cannot be used to upgrade
from other Windows OS's. Finally, there is the upgrade box, a retail
product resulting in either Home or Pro.

Confused? Then play it straight and simple. Never heard of "Promo". When
buying anything other than from the retail line, get written warranties
and guarantees.