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#16
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Introduction and questions from (maybe) new XP user.
Borrow someone's install disk.
Install it and when it asks for the reg code, type in a phony code. You will eventually get a message saying this is not a legal copy. You'll then be given an opportunity to purchase a legal copy from Microsoft. This happened to me and I now have a legal copy of XP Pro. They gave me the correct code and mailed me the disk. M. "Robbie Hatley" wrote in message ... An anonymous coward wrote: Bite the bullet and buy a new computer with Windows 7. That way you'll have the latest hardware and software. Firstly, I don't do "new computers"; I build my own. Secondly, I don't do pre-installed OSes; I install my own using install CDs. Avoids a whole plethora of problems. Thirdly, I couldn't afford a "new computer" even if I wanted to buy one, which I don't. In short, I'm sorry, but your "answer" does not come even remotely close to answering anything I actually asked, so i'll repeat: Greetings, group. This is my first post to this group. I've been using Windows 2000 since shortly after it came out (late 2000). It's met all my needs until recently. But lately, I've been running into problems as Microsoft, software manufacturers, ISPs, etc are all phasing-out support for Win2K. SO, I'm considering moving to Windows-XP. I have two questions: Firstly, what are the options for obtaining XP install CDs these days? I've heard MS has stopped producing them. So we have to get them from places that still have them in stock? Or are there other options? Secondly, does XP require manually setting an entry in the registry in order to use HD partitions over 137GB, as with Win2K? Or is XP smart enough to automatically use the correct LBA type (24bit or 48bit) based on HD size? (I'm looking to avoid any repeats of an incident which occurred about a year ago in which thousands of files on my computer were destroyed because registry entry "EnableBigLBA" got reset to 0 on a clean reinstall of Win2K.) -- Cheers, Robbie Hatley lonewolf at well dot com www dot well dot com slant tilde lonewolf slant |
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#17
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Introduction and questions from (maybe) new XP user.
Borrow someone's install disk.
Install it and when it asks for the reg code, type in a phony code. You will eventually get a message saying this is not a legal copy. You'll then be given an opportunity to purchase a legal copy from Microsoft. This happened to me and I now have a legal copy of XP Pro. They gave me the correct code and mailed me the disk. M. "Robbie Hatley" wrote in message ... An anonymous coward wrote: Bite the bullet and buy a new computer with Windows 7. That way you'll have the latest hardware and software. Firstly, I don't do "new computers"; I build my own. Secondly, I don't do pre-installed OSes; I install my own using install CDs. Avoids a whole plethora of problems. Thirdly, I couldn't afford a "new computer" even if I wanted to buy one, which I don't. In short, I'm sorry, but your "answer" does not come even remotely close to answering anything I actually asked, so i'll repeat: Greetings, group. This is my first post to this group. I've been using Windows 2000 since shortly after it came out (late 2000). It's met all my needs until recently. But lately, I've been running into problems as Microsoft, software manufacturers, ISPs, etc are all phasing-out support for Win2K. SO, I'm considering moving to Windows-XP. I have two questions: Firstly, what are the options for obtaining XP install CDs these days? I've heard MS has stopped producing them. So we have to get them from places that still have them in stock? Or are there other options? Secondly, does XP require manually setting an entry in the registry in order to use HD partitions over 137GB, as with Win2K? Or is XP smart enough to automatically use the correct LBA type (24bit or 48bit) based on HD size? (I'm looking to avoid any repeats of an incident which occurred about a year ago in which thousands of files on my computer were destroyed because registry entry "EnableBigLBA" got reset to 0 on a clean reinstall of Win2K.) -- Cheers, Robbie Hatley lonewolf at well dot com www dot well dot com slant tilde lonewolf slant |
#18
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Introduction and questions from (maybe) new XP user.
"Robbie Hatley" wrote in message
An anonymous coward wrote: Bite the bullet and buy a new computer with Windows 7. That way you'll have the latest hardware and software. Firstly, I don't do "new computers"; I build my own. That statement can be construed akin to double talk. A self assembled PC can be in the eyes of the beholder, new or dated, depending on the product(s) used to assemble the PC. Secondly, I don't do pre-installed OSes; I install my own using install CDs. Avoids a whole plethora of problems. Isn't that hand-to-hand when assembling a PC "on your own"? Thirdly, I couldn't afford a "new computer" even if I wanted to buy one, which I don't. Which means you use dated "hand me down parted out boneyard" products which is still in the eyes of the beholder, new or dated. snipped Greetings, group. This is my first post to this group. I've been using Windows 2000 since shortly after it came out (late 2000). It's met all my needs until recently. But lately, I've been running into problems as Microsoft, software manufacturers, ISPs, etc are all phasing-out support for Win2K. SO, I'm considering moving to Windows-XP. I have two questions: Firstly, what are the options for obtaining XP install CDs these days? I've heard MS has stopped producing them. So we have to get them from places that still have them in stock? Or are there other options? You can search online at sites such as the below provided links, yet not limited to them. http://www.newegg.com/ http://www.tigerdirect.com/?SRCCODE=...0mmVCjCECjC E or take a chance at: http://www.pricewatch.com/ http://www.ebay.com/ Secondly, does XP require manually setting an entry in the registry in order to use HD partitions over 137GB, as with Win2K? Or is XP smart enough to automatically use the correct LBA type (24bit or 48bit) based on HD size? (I'm looking to avoid any repeats of an incident which occurred about a year ago in which thousands of files on my computer were destroyed because registry entry "EnableBigLBA" got reset to 0 on a clean reinstall of Win2K.) If the motherboards BIOS supports large capacity disks and you install XP SP1 or higher there shouldn't be any problem. To better assist you in your learning curve, see: http://groups.google.com/groups/sear...=Search+Groups -- Brian A. Sesko Conflicts start where information lacks. http://basconotw.mvps.org/ Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://members.shaw.ca/dts-l/goodpost.htm How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375 |
#19
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Introduction and questions from (maybe) new XP user.
"Robbie Hatley" wrote in message
An anonymous coward wrote: Bite the bullet and buy a new computer with Windows 7. That way you'll have the latest hardware and software. Firstly, I don't do "new computers"; I build my own. That statement can be construed akin to double talk. A self assembled PC can be in the eyes of the beholder, new or dated, depending on the product(s) used to assemble the PC. Secondly, I don't do pre-installed OSes; I install my own using install CDs. Avoids a whole plethora of problems. Isn't that hand-to-hand when assembling a PC "on your own"? Thirdly, I couldn't afford a "new computer" even if I wanted to buy one, which I don't. Which means you use dated "hand me down parted out boneyard" products which is still in the eyes of the beholder, new or dated. snipped Greetings, group. This is my first post to this group. I've been using Windows 2000 since shortly after it came out (late 2000). It's met all my needs until recently. But lately, I've been running into problems as Microsoft, software manufacturers, ISPs, etc are all phasing-out support for Win2K. SO, I'm considering moving to Windows-XP. I have two questions: Firstly, what are the options for obtaining XP install CDs these days? I've heard MS has stopped producing them. So we have to get them from places that still have them in stock? Or are there other options? You can search online at sites such as the below provided links, yet not limited to them. http://www.newegg.com/ http://www.tigerdirect.com/?SRCCODE=...0mmVCjCECjC E or take a chance at: http://www.pricewatch.com/ http://www.ebay.com/ Secondly, does XP require manually setting an entry in the registry in order to use HD partitions over 137GB, as with Win2K? Or is XP smart enough to automatically use the correct LBA type (24bit or 48bit) based on HD size? (I'm looking to avoid any repeats of an incident which occurred about a year ago in which thousands of files on my computer were destroyed because registry entry "EnableBigLBA" got reset to 0 on a clean reinstall of Win2K.) If the motherboards BIOS supports large capacity disks and you install XP SP1 or higher there shouldn't be any problem. To better assist you in your learning curve, see: http://groups.google.com/groups/sear...=Search+Groups -- Brian A. Sesko Conflicts start where information lacks. http://basconotw.mvps.org/ Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://members.shaw.ca/dts-l/goodpost.htm How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375 |
#20
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Introduction and questions from (maybe) new XP user.
Some months ago, I asked the follow question (among others): registry in order to use HD partitions over 137GB, as with Win2K? Or is XP smart enough to automatically use the correct LBA type (24bit or 48bit) based on HD size? (I'm looking to avoid any repeats of an incident which occurred about a year ago in which thousands of files on my computer were destroyed because registry entry "EnableBigLBA" got reset to 0 on a clean reinstall of Win2K.) One of the few persons who attemped a relevant answer was Brian A. Sesko, who wrote: If the motherboards BIOS supports large capacity disks and you install XP SP1 or higher there shouldn't be any problem. Hmmm. You realize, I hope, that "problem" means "something which is as it shouldn't be". Hence it's ALWAYS true that "there shouldn't be any problem". (Tautology.) So I'm not quite clear on your answer. Are you saying that *NO* manual edit of the registry is necessary to safely use hard disks larger than 137GB? You mention SP1. What about the bare OS without any service pack? I have to install that before DLing any SPs, right? Hopefully it won't mess up my big HD before I have a chance to install the SPs? So that you can understand why I'm being so nit-picky about this, let me give you some background. I'm currently running Windows 2000, where the 137GB issue is a MIGHTY BIG problem. (It "shouldn't be" a problem, of course; but it is.) IF YOU DON'T MANUALLY EDIT THE REGISTRY, ALL YOUR DATA WILL BE DESTROYED. AND THE EDIT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS EXTREMELY NON-INTUITIVE, DEEPLY BURIED, AND NOT WELL PUBLICIZED: Go to HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\atapi\Param eters and change "EnableBigLBA" from 0 to 1. Hence, perhaps you can see why I'm being a stickler on this. Brian also wrote: To better assist you in your learning curve, see: http://groups.google.com/groups/sear...=Search+Groups Hmmm. And wade through thousands of items of other people having similar (but different) problems with similar (but different) causes and cures? I see that some of the hits involve people who later found out that their BIOS didn't support their HD. Old BIOSs see all HDs bigger than 137GB -- say, for instance, 100TB, or 100PB -- as being 137GB. So if you use, say, a 250GB hard disk, all data you attempt to write to the 138-250GB range will over-write data in the 0-137GB part of the disk, resulting in destruction of the operating system, programs, and data. Well, duh. That, however, is not my problem, as the BIOSs on the computers I use all support 48-bit LBA. SO.... My main question remains: In the Microsoft Windows XP operating system, is any manual registry edit required for safe usage of hard disks larger than 137GB? -- Cheers, Robbie Hatley lonewolf at well dot com www dot well dot com slant tilde lonewolf slant |
#21
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Introduction and questions from (maybe) new XP user.
Some months ago, I asked the follow question (among others): registry in order to use HD partitions over 137GB, as with Win2K? Or is XP smart enough to automatically use the correct LBA type (24bit or 48bit) based on HD size? (I'm looking to avoid any repeats of an incident which occurred about a year ago in which thousands of files on my computer were destroyed because registry entry "EnableBigLBA" got reset to 0 on a clean reinstall of Win2K.) One of the few persons who attemped a relevant answer was Brian A. Sesko, who wrote: If the motherboards BIOS supports large capacity disks and you install XP SP1 or higher there shouldn't be any problem. Hmmm. You realize, I hope, that "problem" means "something which is as it shouldn't be". Hence it's ALWAYS true that "there shouldn't be any problem". (Tautology.) So I'm not quite clear on your answer. Are you saying that *NO* manual edit of the registry is necessary to safely use hard disks larger than 137GB? You mention SP1. What about the bare OS without any service pack? I have to install that before DLing any SPs, right? Hopefully it won't mess up my big HD before I have a chance to install the SPs? So that you can understand why I'm being so nit-picky about this, let me give you some background. I'm currently running Windows 2000, where the 137GB issue is a MIGHTY BIG problem. (It "shouldn't be" a problem, of course; but it is.) IF YOU DON'T MANUALLY EDIT THE REGISTRY, ALL YOUR DATA WILL BE DESTROYED. AND THE EDIT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS EXTREMELY NON-INTUITIVE, DEEPLY BURIED, AND NOT WELL PUBLICIZED: Go to HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\atapi\Param eters and change "EnableBigLBA" from 0 to 1. Hence, perhaps you can see why I'm being a stickler on this. Brian also wrote: To better assist you in your learning curve, see: http://groups.google.com/groups/sear...=Search+Groups Hmmm. And wade through thousands of items of other people having similar (but different) problems with similar (but different) causes and cures? I see that some of the hits involve people who later found out that their BIOS didn't support their HD. Old BIOSs see all HDs bigger than 137GB -- say, for instance, 100TB, or 100PB -- as being 137GB. So if you use, say, a 250GB hard disk, all data you attempt to write to the 138-250GB range will over-write data in the 0-137GB part of the disk, resulting in destruction of the operating system, programs, and data. Well, duh. That, however, is not my problem, as the BIOSs on the computers I use all support 48-bit LBA. SO.... My main question remains: In the Microsoft Windows XP operating system, is any manual registry edit required for safe usage of hard disks larger than 137GB? -- Cheers, Robbie Hatley lonewolf at well dot com www dot well dot com slant tilde lonewolf slant |
#22
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Introduction and questions from (maybe) new XP user.
In message , Robbie
Hatley writes: [] So I'm not quite clear on your answer. Are you saying that *NO* manual edit of the registry is necessary to safely use hard disks larger than 137GB? You mention SP1. What about the bare OS without any service pack? I have to install that before DLing any SPs, right? Hopefully it won't mess up my big HD before I have a chance to install the SPs? [] You can get "the bare OS" already including SP1, 2, and (I think) 3: any XP install disc you've got recently will not require SP1 or 2 to be installed at all - they're already in the OS install. (I'm not sure about 3, though I suspect that applies too; certainly this machine, like most XP machines sold last year, came with SP3 already installed, and I very much doubt the makers had to mess about installing the OS then service packs. Of course, if you already have an install CD from some years ago, then yes, you will have to install it first, followed by whatever SPs it didn't already include. Or, you need to make an install CD that includes the SPs - Google for "slipstreaming" for how - and use that. (Probably makes for a slightly cleaner OS install, but a tedious business if you only have the one PC to set up.) -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf ** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously outdated thoughts on PCs. ** "Anything else you'd like me to do while I'm at it? Paint the sky green? Bury the odd elephant I find lying around ..." - Tidy, the Android - Earthsearch II, part 2. (1982-5-2) |
#23
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Introduction and questions from (maybe) new XP user.
In message , Robbie
Hatley writes: [] So I'm not quite clear on your answer. Are you saying that *NO* manual edit of the registry is necessary to safely use hard disks larger than 137GB? You mention SP1. What about the bare OS without any service pack? I have to install that before DLing any SPs, right? Hopefully it won't mess up my big HD before I have a chance to install the SPs? [] You can get "the bare OS" already including SP1, 2, and (I think) 3: any XP install disc you've got recently will not require SP1 or 2 to be installed at all - they're already in the OS install. (I'm not sure about 3, though I suspect that applies too; certainly this machine, like most XP machines sold last year, came with SP3 already installed, and I very much doubt the makers had to mess about installing the OS then service packs. Of course, if you already have an install CD from some years ago, then yes, you will have to install it first, followed by whatever SPs it didn't already include. Or, you need to make an install CD that includes the SPs - Google for "slipstreaming" for how - and use that. (Probably makes for a slightly cleaner OS install, but a tedious business if you only have the one PC to set up.) -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf ** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously outdated thoughts on PCs. ** "Anything else you'd like me to do while I'm at it? Paint the sky green? Bury the odd elephant I find lying around ..." - Tidy, the Android - Earthsearch II, part 2. (1982-5-2) |
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