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Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro


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Guest Jim H.
Posted

OK, due to a former question I posed in this forum, I've been convinced not

to do what I wanted to do, downgrade from XP Pro to Windows 98.

 

So, here's the new question I now have.

 

I've purchased a used P4 machine with an illegal copy of XP Pro on it. I do

have a legal copy of the 98 upgrade which is currently on my old machine that

I'm throwing in the trash as soon as I get the P4 up and running (legally).

Can I simply purchase an XP OEM upgrade, boot from that upgrade CD, format

the hard drive and show the OS install process the 98 upgrade CD when asked?

I've been told that this will work but I'm still unsure whether or not it

will REALLY work.

 

Also, is it wise to get the OEM upgrade. Is there such a thing as a non-OEM

upgrade?

 

--

Jim H.

  • Replies 13
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Guest Bob I
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

There is no such animal as an OEM-upgrade. OEM means installed by the

original manufacturer. The OEM is a clean install and needs no

"qualifing operating system"

 

Jim H. wrote:

> OK, due to a former question I posed in this forum, I've been convinced not

> to do what I wanted to do, downgrade from XP Pro to Windows 98.

>

> So, here's the new question I now have.

>

> I've purchased a used P4 machine with an illegal copy of XP Pro on it. I do

> have a legal copy of the 98 upgrade which is currently on my old machine that

> I'm throwing in the trash as soon as I get the P4 up and running (legally).

> Can I simply purchase an XP OEM upgrade, boot from that upgrade CD, format

> the hard drive and show the OS install process the 98 upgrade CD when asked?

> I've been told that this will work but I'm still unsure whether or not it

> will REALLY work.

>

> Also, is it wise to get the OEM upgrade. Is there such a thing as a non-OEM

> upgrade?

>

Guest Ron Badour
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

An upgrade CD is a retail version. An OEM CD is installed to a drive

without a system so there is no qualifying system check. Stick the XP CD

in, make sure the CDRom drive is the first boot device in the BIOS, format

the drive and install the system.

 

--

Regards

 

Ron Badour

MS MVP 1997 - 2007

 

 

"Jim H." <JimH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:888D2838-F8C1-4E9E-AC03-E984AD32F504@microsoft.com...

> OK, due to a former question I posed in this forum, I've been convinced

> not

> to do what I wanted to do, downgrade from XP Pro to Windows 98.

>

> So, here's the new question I now have.

>

> I've purchased a used P4 machine with an illegal copy of XP Pro on it. I

> do

> have a legal copy of the 98 upgrade which is currently on my old machine

> that

> I'm throwing in the trash as soon as I get the P4 up and running

> (legally).

> Can I simply purchase an XP OEM upgrade, boot from that upgrade CD, format

> the hard drive and show the OS install process the 98 upgrade CD when

> asked?

> I've been told that this will work but I'm still unsure whether or not it

> will REALLY work.

>

> Also, is it wise to get the OEM upgrade. Is there such a thing as a

> non-OEM

> upgrade?

>

> --

> Jim H.

Guest Kelly
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

But there is such an animal! :o)

 

--

 

All the Best,

Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

 

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

Is it October already? Either way, Happy Birthday if today is your

birthday!

 

 

"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:Orb3W4E2HHA.4584@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> There is no such animal as an OEM-upgrade. OEM means installed by the

> original manufacturer. The OEM is a clean install and needs no "qualifing

> operating system"

>

> Jim H. wrote:

>

>> OK, due to a former question I posed in this forum, I've been convinced

>> not to do what I wanted to do, downgrade from XP Pro to Windows 98.

>>

>> So, here's the new question I now have.

>>

>> I've purchased a used P4 machine with an illegal copy of XP Pro on it. I

>> do have a legal copy of the 98 upgrade which is currently on my old

>> machine that I'm throwing in the trash as soon as I get the P4 up and

>> running (legally). Can I simply purchase an XP OEM upgrade, boot from

>> that upgrade CD, format the hard drive and show the OS install process

>> the 98 upgrade CD when asked? I've been told that this will work but I'm

>> still unsure whether or not it will REALLY work.

>>

>> Also, is it wise to get the OEM upgrade. Is there such a thing as a

>> non-OEM upgrade?

>>

>

Guest Harry Ohrn
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

Yes what you propose to do will work. See here for detailed instructions if

you need them

http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPHome/installxphome1.htm

 

Info on what an OEM is can be found here

http://compreviews.about.com/od/general/a/OEM.htm The site gives a general

definition. When it comes to Windows operating systems like Windows XP - OEM

is a licensing agreement between an equipment manufacturer and Microsoft

which allow the equipment manufacturer to distribute copies of the Microsoft

software. OEM versions of Windows XP do not have upgrade capabilities. You

will need to purchase a Retail Upgrade version.

 

--

 

 

Harry Ohrn MS MVP [shell\User]

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

 

 

"Jim H." <JimH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:888D2838-F8C1-4E9E-AC03-E984AD32F504@microsoft.com...

> OK, due to a former question I posed in this forum, I've been convinced

> not

> to do what I wanted to do, downgrade from XP Pro to Windows 98.

>

> So, here's the new question I now have.

>

> I've purchased a used P4 machine with an illegal copy of XP Pro on it. I

> do

> have a legal copy of the 98 upgrade which is currently on my old machine

> that

> I'm throwing in the trash as soon as I get the P4 up and running

> (legally).

> Can I simply purchase an XP OEM upgrade, boot from that upgrade CD, format

> the hard drive and show the OS install process the 98 upgrade CD when

> asked?

> I've been told that this will work but I'm still unsure whether or not it

> will REALLY work.

>

> Also, is it wise to get the OEM upgrade. Is there such a thing as a

> non-OEM

> upgrade?

>

> --

> Jim H.

Guest Gary S. Terhune
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

There is no such thing as an OEM Upgrade. There's Retail Full, Retail

Upgrade, and OEM generic. A generic OEM version can't be used to Upgrade.

You simply clean install it with no need to prove anything. If you *do* have

a Retail Upgrade CD, then the scenario is exactly as you describe it, and

yes, I've done it many times.

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

"Jim H." <JimH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:888D2838-F8C1-4E9E-AC03-E984AD32F504@microsoft.com...

> OK, due to a former question I posed in this forum, I've been convinced

> not

> to do what I wanted to do, downgrade from XP Pro to Windows 98.

>

> So, here's the new question I now have.

>

> I've purchased a used P4 machine with an illegal copy of XP Pro on it. I

> do

> have a legal copy of the 98 upgrade which is currently on my old machine

> that

> I'm throwing in the trash as soon as I get the P4 up and running

> (legally).

> Can I simply purchase an XP OEM upgrade, boot from that upgrade CD, format

> the hard drive and show the OS install process the 98 upgrade CD when

> asked?

> I've been told that this will work but I'm still unsure whether or not it

> will REALLY work.

>

> Also, is it wise to get the OEM upgrade. Is there such a thing as a

> non-OEM

> upgrade?

>

> --

> Jim H.

Guest Paul Randall
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

Enough MVPs have cast their vote with the 'there is no such thing as an OEM

Upgrade', that I would like to pose a question:

If I had purchased a W98 from Hewlett Packard around the time that WXP came

out, and they sent me the promised 'upgrade' to WXP, would it be an OEM

upgrade or a Full upgrade?

 

I will try to confirm your answer by looking at a friend's Vista upgrade to

his EMachine's XP Media Center.

 

-Paul Randall

 

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

news:OyYkaFF2HHA.5380@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> There is no such thing as an OEM Upgrade. There's Retail Full, Retail

> Upgrade, and OEM generic. A generic OEM version can't be used to Upgrade.

> You simply clean install it with no need to prove anything. If you *do*

> have a Retail Upgrade CD, then the scenario is exactly as you describe it,

> and yes, I've done it many times.

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

> http://www.grystmill.com

>

> "Jim H." <JimH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:888D2838-F8C1-4E9E-AC03-E984AD32F504@microsoft.com...

>> OK, due to a former question I posed in this forum, I've been convinced

>> not

>> to do what I wanted to do, downgrade from XP Pro to Windows 98.

>>

>> So, here's the new question I now have.

>>

>> I've purchased a used P4 machine with an illegal copy of XP Pro on it. I

>> do

>> have a legal copy of the 98 upgrade which is currently on my old machine

>> that

>> I'm throwing in the trash as soon as I get the P4 up and running

>> (legally).

>> Can I simply purchase an XP OEM upgrade, boot from that upgrade CD,

>> format

>> the hard drive and show the OS install process the 98 upgrade CD when

>> asked?

>> I've been told that this will work but I'm still unsure whether or not it

>> will REALLY work.

>>

>> Also, is it wise to get the OEM upgrade. Is there such a thing as a

>> non-OEM

>> upgrade?

>>

>> --

>> Jim H.

>

>

Guest Ken Blake, MVP
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

On Mon, 6 Aug 2007 10:04:06 -0700, Jim H.

<JimH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> OK, due to a former question I posed in this forum, I've been convinced not

> to do what I wanted to do, downgrade from XP Pro to Windows 98.

>

> So, here's the new question I now have.

>

> I've purchased a used P4 machine with an illegal copy of XP Pro on it. I do

> have a legal copy of the 98 upgrade which is currently on my old machine that

> I'm throwing in the trash as soon as I get the P4 up and running (legally).

 

 

 

Do *not* throw the Windows 98 CD away! If you use a Windows XP Upgrade

CD, you will need it again if you ever have to reinstall Windows

cleanly.

 

> Can I simply purchase an XP OEM upgrade, boot from that upgrade CD, format

> the hard drive and show the OS install process the 98 upgrade CD when asked?

 

 

Delete the word "OEM" from that sentence, and yes, that's exactly what

to do. Upgrade CDs are retail ones, not upgrades.

 

> I've been told that this will work but I'm still unsure whether or not it

> will REALLY work.

 

 

Yes, it does.

 

> Also, is it wise to get the OEM upgrade. Is there such a thing as a non-OEM

> upgrade?

 

 

Yes, there is. That (a retail version) is the only kind of Upgrade

available.

 

There are three kinds of CDs you can buy:

 

1. Retail Full (the most expensive choice). It can do either a clean

installation or an upgrade without restriction.

 

2. Retail Upgrade. It can also do either a clean installation or an

upgrade, but requires proof of ownership of a previous qualifying

version. That proof is the installed Windows when doing an upgrade

installation, or an inserted CD (as you stated above) when doing a

clean installation.

 

3. OEM. The OEM version can do a clean installation only.

 

The OEM version and the Retail Upgrade are usually very close in

price--both considerably less than the Full Retail one. The Retail

Upgrade might cost slightly more than the OEM version, but it's worth

it, since it doesn't come with the very significant restriction that

the OEM version does--that once installed on a computer, it can never

legally be moved to another computer, even if the original one dies.

 

For that reason, I almost always recommend the Retail Upgrade version

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Guest Bob I
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

But not in the sense that he can buy.

 

Kelly wrote:

> But there is such an animal! :o)

>

Guest Ken Blake, MVP
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

On Mon, 6 Aug 2007 12:23:19 -0600, "Paul Randall"

<paulr901@cableone.net> wrote:

> Enough MVPs have cast their vote with the 'there is no such thing as an OEM

> Upgrade', that I would like to pose a question:

> If I had purchased a W98 from Hewlett Packard around the time that WXP came

> out, and they sent me the promised 'upgrade' to WXP, would it be an OEM

> upgrade or a Full upgrade?

 

 

I don't know what HP does, so I'm not sure of the answer, but I'll

take an educated guess. They would have sent you a regular OEM CD, one

which would have required you to clean install it.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Guest Bob I
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

That could "technically" be call an "OEM-upgrade" but you can't "buy"

that CD as an upgrade.

 

Paul Randall wrote:

> Enough MVPs have cast their vote with the 'there is no such thing as an OEM

> Upgrade', that I would like to pose a question:

> If I had purchased a W98 from Hewlett Packard around the time that WXP came

> out, and they sent me the promised 'upgrade' to WXP, would it be an OEM

> upgrade or a Full upgrade?

>

> I will try to confirm your answer by looking at a friend's Vista upgrade to

> his EMachine's XP Media Center.

>

> -Paul Randall

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

> news:OyYkaFF2HHA.5380@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>

>>There is no such thing as an OEM Upgrade. There's Retail Full, Retail

>>Upgrade, and OEM generic. A generic OEM version can't be used to Upgrade.

>>You simply clean install it with no need to prove anything. If you *do*

>>have a Retail Upgrade CD, then the scenario is exactly as you describe it,

>>and yes, I've done it many times.

>>

>>--

>>Gary S. Terhune

>>MS-MVP Shell/User

>>http://www.grystmill.com

>>

>>"Jim H." <JimH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>>news:888D2838-F8C1-4E9E-AC03-E984AD32F504@microsoft.com...

>>

>>>OK, due to a former question I posed in this forum, I've been convinced

>>>not

>>>to do what I wanted to do, downgrade from XP Pro to Windows 98.

>>>

>>>So, here's the new question I now have.

>>>

>>>I've purchased a used P4 machine with an illegal copy of XP Pro on it. I

>>>do

>>>have a legal copy of the 98 upgrade which is currently on my old machine

>>>that

>>>I'm throwing in the trash as soon as I get the P4 up and running

>>>(legally).

>>>Can I simply purchase an XP OEM upgrade, boot from that upgrade CD,

>>>format

>>>the hard drive and show the OS install process the 98 upgrade CD when

>>>asked?

>>>I've been told that this will work but I'm still unsure whether or not it

>>>will REALLY work.

>>>

>>>Also, is it wise to get the OEM upgrade. Is there such a thing as a

>>>non-OEM

>>>upgrade?

>>>

>>>--

>>>Jim H.

>>

>>

>

>

Guest Jim H.
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

Wow! I've never received such rapid and good responses in MDG. Seems the

dumber I manage to appear, the more help I get.

 

But really, I'm grateful. Really.

 

Thanks,

--

Jim H.

 

 

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> On Mon, 6 Aug 2007 10:04:06 -0700, Jim H.

> <JimH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>

> > OK, due to a former question I posed in this forum, I've been convinced not

> > to do what I wanted to do, downgrade from XP Pro to Windows 98.

> >

> > So, here's the new question I now have.

> >

> > I've purchased a used P4 machine with an illegal copy of XP Pro on it. I do

> > have a legal copy of the 98 upgrade which is currently on my old machine that

> > I'm throwing in the trash as soon as I get the P4 up and running (legally).

>

>

>

> Do *not* throw the Windows 98 CD away! If you use a Windows XP Upgrade

> CD, you will need it again if you ever have to reinstall Windows

> cleanly.

>

>

> > Can I simply purchase an XP OEM upgrade, boot from that upgrade CD, format

> > the hard drive and show the OS install process the 98 upgrade CD when asked?

>

>

> Delete the word "OEM" from that sentence, and yes, that's exactly what

> to do. Upgrade CDs are retail ones, not upgrades.

>

>

> > I've been told that this will work but I'm still unsure whether or not it

> > will REALLY work.

>

>

> Yes, it does.

>

>

> > Also, is it wise to get the OEM upgrade. Is there such a thing as a non-OEM

> > upgrade?

>

>

> Yes, there is. That (a retail version) is the only kind of Upgrade

> available.

>

> There are three kinds of CDs you can buy:

>

> 1. Retail Full (the most expensive choice). It can do either a clean

> installation or an upgrade without restriction.

>

> 2. Retail Upgrade. It can also do either a clean installation or an

> upgrade, but requires proof of ownership of a previous qualifying

> version. That proof is the installed Windows when doing an upgrade

> installation, or an inserted CD (as you stated above) when doing a

> clean installation.

>

> 3. OEM. The OEM version can do a clean installation only.

>

> The OEM version and the Retail Upgrade are usually very close in

> price--both considerably less than the Full Retail one. The Retail

> Upgrade might cost slightly more than the OEM version, but it's worth

> it, since it doesn't come with the very significant restriction that

> the OEM version does--that once installed on a computer, it can never

> legally be moved to another computer, even if the original one dies.

>

> For that reason, I almost always recommend the Retail Upgrade version

>

> --

> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User

> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

>

Guest Ken Blake, MVP
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

On Mon, 6 Aug 2007 13:46:06 -0700, Jim H.

<JimH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Wow! I've never received such rapid and good responses in MDG. Seems the

> dumber I manage to appear, the more help I get.

>

> But really, I'm grateful. Really.

 

 

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

 

> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

>

> > On Mon, 6 Aug 2007 10:04:06 -0700, Jim H.

> > <JimH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> >

> > > OK, due to a former question I posed in this forum, I've been convinced not

> > > to do what I wanted to do, downgrade from XP Pro to Windows 98.

> > >

> > > So, here's the new question I now have.

> > >

> > > I've purchased a used P4 machine with an illegal copy of XP Pro on it. I do

> > > have a legal copy of the 98 upgrade which is currently on my old machine that

> > > I'm throwing in the trash as soon as I get the P4 up and running (legally).

> >

> >

> >

> > Do *not* throw the Windows 98 CD away! If you use a Windows XP Upgrade

> > CD, you will need it again if you ever have to reinstall Windows

> > cleanly.

> >

> >

> > > Can I simply purchase an XP OEM upgrade, boot from that upgrade CD, format

> > > the hard drive and show the OS install process the 98 upgrade CD when asked?

> >

> >

> > Delete the word "OEM" from that sentence, and yes, that's exactly what

> > to do. Upgrade CDs are retail ones, not upgrades.

> >

> >

> > > I've been told that this will work but I'm still unsure whether or not it

> > > will REALLY work.

> >

> >

> > Yes, it does.

> >

> >

> > > Also, is it wise to get the OEM upgrade. Is there such a thing as a non-OEM

> > > upgrade?

> >

> >

> > Yes, there is. That (a retail version) is the only kind of Upgrade

> > available.

> >

> > There are three kinds of CDs you can buy:

> >

> > 1. Retail Full (the most expensive choice). It can do either a clean

> > installation or an upgrade without restriction.

> >

> > 2. Retail Upgrade. It can also do either a clean installation or an

> > upgrade, but requires proof of ownership of a previous qualifying

> > version. That proof is the installed Windows when doing an upgrade

> > installation, or an inserted CD (as you stated above) when doing a

> > clean installation.

> >

> > 3. OEM. The OEM version can do a clean installation only.

> >

> > The OEM version and the Retail Upgrade are usually very close in

> > price--both considerably less than the Full Retail one. The Retail

> > Upgrade might cost slightly more than the OEM version, but it's worth

> > it, since it doesn't come with the very significant restriction that

> > the OEM version does--that once installed on a computer, it can never

> > legally be moved to another computer, even if the original one dies.

> >

> > For that reason, I almost always recommend the Retail Upgrade version

> >

> > --

> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User

> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup

> >

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Guest Bruce Chambers
Posted

Re: Switching to Legal Copy of XP Pro

 

Jim H. wrote:

> OK, due to a former question I posed in this forum, I've been convinced not

> to do what I wanted to do, downgrade from XP Pro to Windows 98.

>

> So, here's the new question I now have.

>

> I've purchased a used P4 machine with an illegal copy of XP Pro on it. I do

> have a legal copy of the 98 upgrade which is currently on my old machine that

> I'm throwing in the trash as soon as I get the P4 up and running (legally).

> Can I simply purchase an XP OEM upgrade, boot from that upgrade CD, format

> the hard drive and show the OS install process the 98 upgrade CD when asked?

> I've been told that this will work but I'm still unsure whether or not it

> will REALLY work.

>

> Also, is it wise to get the OEM upgrade.

 

 

There's no such thing, unless you've a special voucher from the

computer's manufacturer.

> Is there such a thing as a non-OEM

> upgrade?

>

 

 

Certainly. That's the most common kind, by far.

 

If you are trying to install a WinXP Service Pack and getting the

following:

 

The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q326904

 

You need to purchase and a _legitimate_ retail or OEM *full* (not

upgrade) license of WinXP Pro to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place

upgrade) installation, using the new CDs and Product Keys.

 

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

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