Two questions regarding Windows XP

A friend of mine gave me an old P2 400 to mess around with. I am thinking about wiping it and installing Linux.

He had installed XP on it (it ran like crap of course). His kids used it mostly.

1. There are four user accounts set up, but they cannot remember the passwords for any of them. Is there any way that i can get into the machine on ANY of these accounts? I really just want to get on there so i can run some hardware recognition tools before I wipe.

2. Is it technically legal for me to use the XP license to install on another machine, as long as there is only ONE machine using that license. For some reason, my gut says no, but in my opinion that would be a bunch of crap and I would find it very hard to swallow.


PK

 

Somebody will correct me if im wrong, i think it says one machine[pc], I agree, what makes the difference which one. ed

 

#2 I see nothing wrong in using your other XP to wipe the old one and to run some diagnostics. You certainly don't have to activate it for that short period of time. However, if you want to continue using that particular XP, then you will have to call MS and say you transferred it which you obviously don't want to do. I'd say you're good to go, at least the black suits won't be on your doorstep. Just don't activate and install your *nix flavour when you're ready .

 

augiedoggie:

I DO want to transfer it though. It is currently installed on machine A (the one that i cannot log into). I want to remove it and install it on another machine (machine B). I will then install Linux on machine A.

PK

 

OK, my bad, yes you can do that AFAIK but it will probably take a call to MS explaining your situation, painless really.

EDIT: BTW, you can reinstall XP on that P2 first to run your diagnostics and then install it on your other rig and call MS to activate

 

You should be able to get into the machine by booting into safe mode.

Restart the pc, keep hitting F8 and this should take you to a screen where one of the options is Safe Mode. Once windows starts, get into Control Panel, open User Accounts and reset the passwords.

 

Yeah, I was able to boot into safe mode but was not sure where to go from there. I will try that again.

So I will have to call MS? Will it know when I go to activate that it is a different machine?

PK

 

You may or may not have to call MS
Either way it is not a big deal as long as key is not being used anymore on another machine
You will have to sit there and read and enter a bunch of numbers, relatively painless
I reinstalled XP on another machine with my cd but used their key and had to call
But if I reinstall with same cd and use key that came with it I did not have to call

 

Was this an OEM xp edition, or a retail. If retail, then yes (one time), BUT, you MUST remove XP from the original computer.. OEM installs are always tied to the original hardware only.

 

Yeah, thats what I fear...this is an OEM copy that he bought on ebay (new of course). Will that make a difference?

I REALLY do not want to have to buy another copy to put on that P3 and its wasted on the P2.

PK

 

Ebay, eh?

http://www.digitmag.co.uk/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=6453

Seems that MS is trying to crack down on this. Not saying what he bought was illegal. But, when it comes to software. I'm wary to buy it on ebay.

If he activated it on that machine, then unfortunately, it is tied to that machine.

Are you sure it is OEM? Because it will state OEM on the key code sticker thingamajig.

 

See, now I am getting mixed signals. Other folks on other boards say that it is OK. Why is it tied to that machine??

It does say OEM on the sticker.

He had no apparent trouble activating this copy on the P2, so I assume that it is a legit copy.


PK

 

Okay, mixed signals. I'm sure they say it is okay to install on another computer just fine. Just call MS it it doesn't work.

But, everything I know that OEM is tied to the original computer, but the retail isn't, if you wipe the original, and use it on a newer computer.

linkies:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/oemeula.htm
http://download.microsoft.com/docum...nloads/microsoft-windows-oem-eula-changes.doc

 

I called MS today and explained my situation. I was told that OEM licenses cannot be transferred. Retail yes, OEM no. It is a one machine forever install. I don't think we understood each other at first. I think she thought I meant it was a branded OEM version, but we straightened that out. She basically told me that even if the old system crashed and burned, i would still not be able to ever use that license again. My only option regarding the P3 would be to either buy the full retail (not an option) or the updrage since it has Win98 installed and I have a Win98 CD.

She also claimed that the OEM versions are not as complete as the full retail and may be lacking some features???

So basically, if we look at things "legally," i have two new giant paperweights.

This really annoys me.

I guess now my question is....will it WORK with the OEM version that I have? I am not asking if i should or shouldn't....just will it work? It sounds like an unknown, which is my fear.

PK

 

To answer the first question, boot the machine into safe mode. Log in as administrator, and delete the passwords from each account. If the administrator account has a password, then I dont know of any free software that will do this, but we use ERD2005 at work. You can use that to boot up the pc and clear the admin password. Hope that helps!

 

Safe mode worked, by the way.

pk

 

OK, new question.

Can I legally install the XP UPGRADE version using an OEM Win98 CD? Is the update transferrable?

I will call MS tomorrow, but would like to know today, as OfficeMax has it on sale for $50 right now.

PK