windows XP

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:41 pm

so my windows is getting crumby and my hard drive is getting bloated so i decided it's time to upgrade to XP (not linux, i prefer to use my computer than try to find out how to use it). i found an XP CD laying around somewhere and it has a CD key so i'm probably going to instal it. my dad said that microsoft hunts down people using the same CD key as somebody else and does bad stuff to them but he's really biased against anything microsoft so how true is that? do any of you share CD keys without a problem or is it really something to watch out for?
EDIT: ok i installed it but now i have a new problem

Post by **bicostp** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:57 pm

They don't hunt you down and break your knees; they just don't let you get non-critical updates. (Including libraries, DirectX, Media Player...)

Is buying a copy of XP really that big a deal?

You know you can probably fix the current install (I'm assuming it's 98 or 2000. If it's 2000, don't bother. There isn't much difference besides bloated junk)

1. Install and use CCleaner. Best. System. Cleaner. Ever.
2. Uninstall programs you don't use anymore
3. If you use PC-Cillin, trash that piece of excrement and install Norton or AVG.

doctorjames · Post by **doctorjames** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:59 pm

An XP CD key can only be registered 5 times. After the 5th time the key will stop working, and you will be left with a 30-day "trial" like bic said.

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:00 pm

doctorjames wrote:An XP CD key can only be registered 5 times. After the 5th time the key will stop working, and you will be left with a 30-day "trial."

No, I thought it could be transferred an infinite amount of times. Now Vista will only be transferable once.

doctorjames · Post by **doctorjames** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:08 pm

If you don't transfer it, it can only be used 5 times. I learned this when I did an install for the 6th time, for a friend, and it wouldn't go, so we had to activate by phone.

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:32 pm

There's programs out there that will get around the "Genuine Advantage" stuff.

Post by **Skyone** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:50 pm

doctorjames wrote:An XP CD key can only be registered 5 times. After the 5th time the key will stop working, and you will be left with a 30-day "trial" like bic said.

Are you sure? My XP Pro CD-Key can't be put on more than one pc at one time...

Kyosho · Post by **Kyosho** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 1:18 am

Skyone wrote:
doctorjames wrote:An XP CD key can only be registered 5 times. After the 5th time the key will stop working, and you will be left with a 30-day "trial" like bic said.
Are you sure? My XP Pro CD-Key can't be put on more than one pc at one time...

Is yours a store-bought copy of XP Pro or some OEM copy that came with your computer? If it's the latter, then there's your problem. I've had experience with copies from Dell/Emachines/etc. where it can only be registered once. Whereas the store-bought, "real" copy can be registered a few times (probably 5 like mentioned).

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 1:40 am

I'm sure I've used the same key more than 5 times on the same machine before MicroSoft's servers stopped accepting it.

Post by **Sparkfist** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:21 am

atari2600a wrote:I'm sure I've used the same key more than 5 times on the same machine before MicroSoft's servers stopped accepting it.

Yeah you can put it on more then one machine, then Microsoft added the update called Genuine Authenitication (or whatever). Once a copy of XP/2000/Media Editon is updated with that you can't install it on another computer without arising attention of Microsoft.

Best thing to do is either buy a copy, as XP is finally down below $150 for Professional. Or you can talk to a college student, those like me in CIS/CS/ect get access to Microsoft products for free or a low cost. I've been told that whom ever dowloads or obtains it under the account the copy is registered to them, I don't know if this is true, but it's worth trying and seeing if you can get away with it.

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 2:09 pm

Sparkfist wrote:
atari2600a wrote:I'm sure I've used the same key more than 5 times on the same machine before MicroSoft's servers stopped accepting it.
Yeah you can put it on more then one machine, then Microsoft added the update called Genuine Authenitication (or whatever). Once a copy of XP/2000/Media Editon is updated with that you can't install it on another computer without arising attention of Microsoft.

Best thing to do is either buy a copy, as XP is finally down below $150 for Professional. Or you can talk to a college student, those like me in CIS/CS/ect get access to Microsoft products for free or a low cost. I've been told that whom ever dowloads or obtains it under the account the copy is registered to them, I don't know if this is true, but it's worth trying and seeing if you can get away with it.

I'm going to get a copy of Professional so I don't have to use Vista.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:31 pm

bicostp wrote:Is buying a copy of XP really that big a deal?

Unless you plan on giving me $100 for it, it is a big deal. Why don't they sell it for less, people might hate micro$oft less.

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:33 pm

alright i installed it and that worked and was spiffy etc... but now i have a new problem: the internet is borked! my old OS (win2k) used wireless because my ethernet port isn't compatible with it. when i installed XP, it seems that it doesn't know it has a wireless card but it did successfully instal the ethernet drivers and i hooked it up to my ethernet cable but it still won't connect to the internet. in win2k, i used the commands "ipconfig/release" and "ipconfig/renew" but those don't work in XP. what should i use instead of those? (BTW, if you're wondering how i'm posting, i'm using linux)

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:42 pm

It's ipconfig in XP.

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:44 pm

I've been running XP for a while with no problems but i don't have a service pack or whatever it's called. How do I get it, is it in windows update? If I'm using the same CD key as somebody else, will it just not update or will windows not work anymore?