new install

[Denise]

I had a pirate copy of Win XP Pro on my pc (didn't realise when I bought it
, until I tried to update it ). So I've now got a full authentic copy which
came with my laptop. I don't want XP on my laptop so thought I'd use it on
my desktop. It's never been installed.
however when I try to install it, is first says that upgrade isn't possible
because a update file isn't found so it defaults to full install then it
tells me the serial number is invalid. I know it's a genuine version and I
know it's never been installed so what do I do now??

[Amethyst]

Denise wrote:
> I had a pirate copy of Win XP Pro on my pc (didn't realise when I bought
it
> , until I tried to update it ). So I've now got a full authentic copy
which
> came with my laptop. I don't want XP on my laptop so thought I'd use it on
> my desktop. It's never been installed.
> however when I try to install it, is first says that upgrade isn't
possible
> because a update file isn't found so it defaults to full install then it
> tells me the serial number is invalid. I know it's a genuine version and
I
> know it's never been installed so what do I do now??

You take out your credit card and head to your nearest software store - or
favourite online retailer -and you purchase the full retail version of XP
(whatever flavour you require) unless you have a qualifying product (9x/ME
for Home, 9x/ME/NT4/2000) in which case the upgrade will suffice. You see,
copies that are sold with hardware (such as your laptop) are known as OEM
(Original Equipment Manufacturer) and, as such, are permanently affixed to
the system they came with (or the first system they are installed on in the
case of a copy that came with something other than a full system). Some
manufacturers (Dell, for example) BIOS lock their installations which
produces the behaviour you're seeing. This means that the CD won't install
on a system with a different BIOS. If you want futher confirmation of what
I've just told you then you can view the OEM EULA by clicking Start > Run
and typing 'winver' (no quotes) and clicking the End User Licence Agreement
link.

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Cassandra
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