General Chat

Hi l am still here,but not for long!! Someone has given me a disc with a little green booklet forWindows XP Home edition, can l install it on my old crock of a puter. l have Windows 98 lst edition, it was updated to 2nd edition but l don't think properly. On the front page of this booklet it says "for distribution only with a new PC". If l install it, could l finish my puter off for ever!!!?????? Jude

Jude, I don't think you can. I had to put a different mother board and hard drive to upgrade to XP. Sorry not much help, but please don't install until a computer xpert comes on. Kim

Kim - thank you, l was about to do it but l needed the authenticity cert number and l don't have it - so l think l'll wait:o( Bloomin puters:o(((((((((((((((((

the "new PC" wording means you can't legally install it, because it wasn't sold at the retail price, it was sold to a manufacturer at a special cheap rate (this is how new PCs come with bundled software worth hundreds of pounds at retail prices) whether it will work is a different matter. Quite possibly it will, but it'll run like a pig in treacle But then again, if you go online with it, it will talk to Microsoft and they'll be able to figure out you aren't legal if they want to

Hi Robin - thanks for that - l have just spoken to b.i.l and he said simular,plus l would have to delete windows 98 etc etc, so to be safe l won't. Also this new worm thingy does'nt affect Windows 98. Thanks again all of you Jude

You don't have to delete Windows 98 because XP will not load from DOS. However - if the disc has been used before and you did not purchase it new, when it has been loaded you have to go on line to 'authenticate' it within 30 days. You can only authenticate it about three times. I crashed my laptop a couple of times and the 3rd time it would not 'authenticate'. You then have to phone someone and buy a new code. If you have an old 'puter you probably couldn't use XP anyway. Find out what you got before you invest in a new copy - could be wasting your hard earned dough. Also some of the programs from earlier 95, 98 won't work with XP.

Jude ,when you do decide to use any x/p version of windows ,you will need a firewall to prevent the nasties getting in ,it,s a good platform but does have drawbacks.