Installation Question detailed help needed please

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ryu

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Hi All,

Ok so my bro gets a laptop and it comes with NT (trial) pre-loaded, it has since expired and he needs to get a new OS, i have a XP disk that i got when i purchased my quad last week and want to install it on his laptop, how do i go about installing it ? when i try it asks me for a serial key which i don't have, i phone the IT guy who gave me the disk and he said i should format the drive and make sure it is not partitioned and then install xp and it won't ask me for a serial key, how do i go about formating the drive and installing xp, please give me detailed info if possible please :o i'm still a beginner... i tried going into DOS and formating the C: but it gives me some error ...
 
ryu said:
...when i try it asks me for a serial key which i don't have, i phone the IT guy who gave me the disk and he said i should format the drive and make sure it is not partitioned and then install xp and it won't ask me for a serial key, ....
Click to expand...

Your IT guy is talking crap.

He probably sold you a pirated version as it should come with a license key.
 
i just phoned him now and he said i should bring the laptop in and he'll install it for me, this sucks cos i wanted to do it myself so i would know how to install it next time i upgrade my pc.
 
1) Buy a legal OEM version from a computer shop

or against all better judgement and legality you could...

2) Install the pirated version, and if it asks for a key, just google for one online.
 
ryu said:
Hi All,

Ok so my bro gets a laptop and it comes with NT (trial) pre-loaded, it has since expired and he needs to get a new OS, i have a XP disk that i got when i purchased my quad last week and want to install it on his laptop, how do i go about installing it ? when i try it asks me for a serial key which i don't have, i phone the IT guy who gave me the disk and he said i should format the drive and make sure it is not partitioned and then install xp and it won't ask me for a serial key, how do i go about formating the drive and installing xp, please give me detailed info if possible please :o i'm still a beginner... i tried going into DOS and formating the C: but it gives me some error ...
Click to expand...

Hmmmmm , ok , firstly your IT guy should of given you the original cd with the license key , if he didnt then you may have a pirated version of windows xp, if you do have a pirated version then if you do an automatic update of your windows then microsoft puts it very nicely and informs you as the user that your computer could have a pirated copy ( Happend to a friend of mine after he updated his pirate copy , they even changed his desktop background with a warning) So be carefull there. As far as the formatting goes , you should be able to boot of the cd and via the cd it will give you an option to format your hard drive.
 
ryu said:
i just phoned him now and he said i should bring the laptop in and he'll install it for me, this sucks cos i wanted to do it myself so i would know how to install it next time i upgrade my pc.
Click to expand...

He's taking a fat chance, because it sounds like he sold you a pirate copy, you should have a sticker on your case with the CD key.

If you were to install XP on your laptop, it will not be legal. What OEM license does the laptop have, there should be a sticker?
 
Actually, it is possible to slipstream the key into the installation disk, especially if it is a VLK version and pre-activated. But that would mean that
a) the disk is not an original windows xp disk and
b) it wouldn't have asked for the licence key anyway...

Unless I missed something
 
Stick ubuntu or something like that on it, NT trial sounds like it is an old machine. XP is off the shelves, your only other real option is Vista basic starter.

Does the machine have any ms licence key sticker at all and if so what OS?
 
wishblade said:
Actually, it is possible to slipstream the key into the installation disk, especially if it is a VLK version and pre-activated. But that would mean that
a) the disk is not an original windows xp disk and
b) it wouldn't have asked for the licence key anyway...

Unless I missed something
Click to expand...

You don't need to activate a vlk, but it is an interesting point. What CD do you have? OEM, volume, copy?
 
Just search for a cdkey on google and turn off automatic updates, easy as that. Automatic Updates suck anyway
 
If you did indeed order XP with your PC and paid for it and can prove it then you could report the dude to the BSA.
 
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