Guest dasequeltocow Posted August 21, 2007 Posted August 21, 2007 I've searched this extensively and unfortunately found nothing :( I would like to completely remove Windows XP Home Edition from my computer, but do so in such a way that if I ever install it again on a separate computer, I won't be nagged by the Windows Genuine Advantage tool. And please don't hate me for using Ubuntu.
Guest Dave B. Posted August 21, 2007 Posted August 21, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? To remove XP you format the hard drive or delete the partition. What happens when you install it on a different computer has nothing to do with the install that was on the first computer, you will still have to reactivate, and you may need to phone in to do it, no (legal) way around it. Use what ever you want, it has no effect on me. -- ---- Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375 How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "dasequeltocow" <dasequeltocow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:ADFB7E6B-BF8F-41AD-AC34-FBCB76606965@microsoft.com... > I've searched this extensively and unfortunately found nothing :( > > I would like to completely remove Windows XP Home Edition from my > computer, > but do so in such a way that if I ever install it again on a separate > computer, I won't be nagged by the Windows Genuine Advantage tool. > > And please don't hate me for using Ubuntu.
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted August 21, 2007 Posted August 21, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? "dasequeltocow" <dasequeltocow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:ADFB7E6B-BF8F-41AD-AC34-FBCB76606965@microsoft.com... > I've searched this extensively and unfortunately found nothing :( > > I would like to completely remove Windows XP Home Edition from my > computer, > but do so in such a way that if I ever install it again on a separate > computer, I won't be nagged by the Windows Genuine Advantage tool. > > And please don't hate me for using Ubuntu. Surely Ubuntu has a tool to partition/format your hard disk during installation? If you can't find it then delpart.exe (http://www.russelltexas.com/delpart.htm) will let you delete any and all partitions. Just boot the machine with a Win98 boot disk (http://www.bootdisk.com). I'm sure you're aware that if your current Windows installation is registered then you cannot install it on different hardware unless you succeed in making a case to Microsoft that it's been removed from the current machine. If you have an OEM copy then you cannot install it anywhere else at all.
Guest dasequeltocow Posted August 21, 2007 Posted August 21, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? So if I reformat the drive and install Windows again in future it definitely won't count the original installation?
Guest Richard in AZ Posted August 21, 2007 Posted August 21, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? "dasequeltocow" <dasequeltocow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:38221DAE-A18A-44C4-848C-518F967AA759@microsoft.com... > So if I reformat the drive and install Windows again in future it definitely > won't count the original installation? When you install Windows Again (assuming it is not an OEM version) it may not activate over the internet because you have already activated it. You then have to use the phone number they provide at activation and give the operator the key code displayed on the screen and they will give you a new activation code (Once you tell them why you are reinstalling it.) If it is an OEM version, you could reinstall it on the same machine, but not a new machine.
Guest Patrick Keenan Posted August 21, 2007 Posted August 21, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? "dasequeltocow" <dasequeltocow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:ADFB7E6B-BF8F-41AD-AC34-FBCB76606965@microsoft.com... > I've searched this extensively and unfortunately found nothing :( > > I would like to completely remove Windows XP Home Edition from my > computer, > but do so in such a way that if I ever install it again on a separate > computer, I won't be nagged by the Windows Genuine Advantage tool. > > And please don't hate me for using Ubuntu. What you want to do has easy and harder parts. The easy part is simply to use the Ubuntu installer to delete and re-create the partitions. Windows will be well and truly gone. Or, remove the Windows drive and install a new hard disk. The hard part has to do with WGA, and moving the install to another system. Unless the "separate computer" is very, very similar to the original system, you're almost certainly going to have to do a repair install (if you installed Ubuntu to a new drive) or a new install. You normally can't just take the drive out and move it to another system and expect it to work. A fresh install will have to be activated, but this isn't a problem if you are following the license agreement. It's usually a quick, toll-free call if you can't activate online. Then, some of the updates that you'll have to get from that are going to require use of WGA. Activation won't likely be a problem if it's been some time since the last activation (which means you can activate online), and if it isn't installed on any other computer. There is potentially an issue if your copy of XP is OEM and tied to your original system. If you bought a retail copy of XP, as long as it's on only one system, activation can be done as many times as needed. You could reinstall and activate every day, as long as it's the same system - but after a couple of online activations, you'll have to phone. What is the problem you have with WGA? Or, are you confusing WGA with activation? HTH -pk
Guest dasequeltocow Posted August 21, 2007 Posted August 21, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? Thank you! If only it weren't so complicated though :(
Guest Dave B. Posted August 21, 2007 Posted August 21, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? It's not complicated, unless you consider dialing a telephone complicated ;) -- ---- Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375 How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "dasequeltocow" <dasequeltocow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:869052C2-E7EA-4B1B-B2CB-50C9C10D98E3@microsoft.com... > Thank you! > > If only it weren't so complicated though :(
Guest HeyBub Posted August 21, 2007 Posted August 21, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? dasequeltocow wrote: > I've searched this extensively and unfortunately found nothing :( > > I would like to completely remove Windows XP Home Edition from my > computer, but do so in such a way that if I ever install it again on > a separate computer, I won't be nagged by the Windows Genuine > Advantage tool. > > And please don't hate me for using Ubuntu. Do you mind pity?
Guest HEMI-Powered Posted August 22, 2007 Posted August 22, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? =?Utf-8?B?ZGFzZXF1ZWx0b2Nvdw==?= added these comments in the current discussion du jour ... > I've searched this extensively and unfortunately found nothing > :( > > I would like to completely remove Windows XP Home Edition from > my computer, but do so in such a way that if I ever install it > again on a separate computer, I won't be nagged by the Windows > Genuine Advantage tool. > > And please don't hate me for using Ubuntu. > and, after you remove Windows, what will you be running besides just your BIOS? do you mean you want to nuke your HD and install XP or Vista? if yes, they can easily do a "clean" install. If you really want Linux, you'd get more help on that from a Linux NG. -- HP, aka Jerry
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted August 22, 2007 Posted August 22, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? dasequeltocow wrote: > I've searched this extensively and unfortunately found nothing :( > > I would like to completely remove Windows XP Home Edition from my computer, The normal way to "uninstall" any operating system is to format the hard drive and install a new OS of your choice. > but do so in such a way that if I ever install it again on a separate > computer, I won't be nagged by the Windows Genuine Advantage tool. > That depends entirely upon the specific type of WinXP license you have. If you have a transferable retail license, no problem. If you have a non-transferable OEM license, you cannot ever use it on any other computer, ever. > And please don't hate me for using Ubuntu. No, I won't hate you you. But I presume you're not planning on actually using the computer to do very much. There's a reason Ubuntu comes with literally dozens of built-in (light-weight) games and screen savers, you know. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm 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
Guest Plato Posted August 22, 2007 Posted August 22, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? Dave B. wrote: > > To remove XP you format the hard drive or delete the partition. Or find a free program to write zeros to the entire drive making it factory fresh with no data on it whatsoever. -- http://www.bootdisk.com/
Guest Lil' Dave Posted August 23, 2007 Posted August 23, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message news:uAgE5ID5HHA.464@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > > "dasequeltocow" <dasequeltocow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:38221DAE-A18A-44C4-848C-518F967AA759@microsoft.com... >> So if I reformat the drive and install Windows again in future it >> definitely >> won't count the original installation? > > When you install Windows Again (assuming it is not an OEM version) it may > not activate over the internet because you have already activated it. You > then have to use the phone number they provide at activation and give the > operator the key code displayed on the screen and they will give you a new > activation code (Once you tell them why you are reinstalling it.) > > If it is an OEM version, you could reinstall it on the same machine, but > not a new machine. > A generic OEM version has the same activation requirements and results as a retail version. You must be speaking of a factory PC OEM version. Dave
Guest dasequeltocow Posted August 25, 2007 Posted August 25, 2007 Re: Complete Removal of Windows? "HEMI-Powered" wrote: > and, after you remove Windows, what will you be running besides > just your BIOS? do you mean you want to nuke your HD and install XP > or Vista? if yes, they can easily do a "clean" install. If you > really want Linux, you'd get more help on that from a Linux NG. I've had a dual boot of Windows and Ubuntu on this computer for about a year, so when I'm finished removing Windows I'll use Ubuntu. I thought Linux people wouldn't really know much about Microsoft activation and OEM and non-OEM versions and stuff like that. "Bruce Chambers" wrote: > No, I won't hate you you. But I presume you're not planning on > actually using the computer to do very much. There's a reason Ubuntu > comes with literally dozens of built-in (light-weight) games and screen > savers, you know. I am planning on actually using the computer, to browse the internet (Firefox), send emails (Thunderbird), send instant messages (Pidgin), play CDs (Rhythmbox), write books (OpenOffice) and edit my website (Screem). I fail to see what this has to do with games and screen savers. Please don't ask me participate in arguments about which operating system is better. They're all good in their own way. I know Windows is great for people who want to play windows-specific games or use Windows Live advanced features and stuff, but I would prefer to have a system that is fast; I like Ubuntu because it runs well with the 256 MB of RAM I have. Yes, I'm poor :) Thanks for giving me so many answers by the way :)
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