Got a PC that has run XP from new, but seeing as I can't get hold of a licence key that works and a late edition of XP I was thinking about loading Vista up.

Would this work ?

 

I dont understand, you have a pc that runs xp yes? so why cant you carry on using it? is it a dodgy copy or something thats expired?

You can buy xp brand new for Ł60, but personally ive gone from xp to vista 3 or 4 times in the past and every time ive come back to xp for one reason or other, mainly because simple tasks that were a dodle in xp were impossible or just didnt work in vista.
Vista will not give you any benefits really unless your a gamer.

 

I've got a new computer (Mac) and I'm letting my ex have my old PC. It's running slow now so I want to do a clean instal for her, load up Word & Excel, job done. The disc I have (genuine) is an older version of XP than is already installed so the PC won't let me load it up. Genuine copy, genuine disc, genuine key - but no go.

 

Cant you format/zero fill your hard disc and then do a fresh install??

 

I imagine Vista will run rather slow compared to XP.

 

No idea what that means,but if it works please explain !

 

Should work mate, as xp is xp, just means that when you reinstall that particular cd you will have a shed load of updates/service packs to install, never heard of a disc being rendered useless just because a newer version is installed. what happens when you put the cd in and restart the pc then? out of interest.

If thats a no go then obviously you'll have to install vista wont you, unless you buy another xp disc.

 

PC just boots up as normal, even with the XP disc in the drive. Really odd.

 

If the PC you intend to format and reinstall XP onto has already had this serial number used on it, you can still use the serial number on that PC.

Micro$oft allow 3 major hardware changes to your PC before you have to contact them to get your serial key activated. As long as you are under this limit, you will be fine re-using the key.

If you have exceeded this limit, all you hav to do is call Microsoft, explain that you have changed the configuration of your PC. They will give you an activation code that you input on your PC, and they reset your number of activations on their system.

Buying Vista because you have no XP key is daft, as you would pay less just buying another copy of XP!.

In any case, Windows 7 will be out in Q4 this year, so I would not advise buying an operating system till then.

If you need further info, PM me

 

Thats why you said its a no go? well your wrong then

Its because the pc is booting from the hard drive, NOT the cd drive, hence your not getting the screen to reinstall windows.

You need to bring up the bios screen and change boot order to cd drive 1st, normally to get this screen you need to press F2 or F4 WHILST you 1st turn the pc on, so just keep bashing different f keys, normally from 2 to 5 as pc's vary depending on makes, but when you get this screen(blue and white) find boot order and change to cd drive 1st, it should work then

 

And again - 'setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is newer than the version on the CD'.

 

Did that - and the bastard thing STILL boots up as normal !

 

1. Set your PC to boot from CD.
2. A message will appear asking you to press a key to boot from CD.
3. Press key and wait for the file-loading to finish.
4. Select 'install windows'
5. Select location to install.
6. select to delete partition / format the location
7. install XP as normal.

Try this link. It has piccys of the steps too.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_..._-_graphic.htm

Just remember to format the location where you are installing XP to NTFS

 

https://passionford.com/forum/computers-consoles-and-i-t/183129-step-by-step-guide-as-to-how-to-repair-windows-xp.html

Look in the Computer room and you can get 90% of your answer

Link above shows a repair. Instead of the repair option go for a fresh install (Press Enter instead of R)

Then press escape to not repair, delete all partitions (It will show on the screen what letters you need to press)

Then just follow the instructions.

 

I knew there was a way of doing it, as long as you have an xp cd and key

 

I was just about to say use my repair guide but instead of repairing, delete and format the partition then install xp.