On Sat, 3 May 2008 10:44:01 +0100
Stroller <stroller@(protected):

>
> On 2 May 2008, at 19:03, Mark Knecht wrote:
> > On Fri, May 2, 2008 at 10:52 AM, Michael Higgins
> > <linux@(protected):
> >> (Saw a similar thread, going the wrong way.)
> >>
> >> I have a laptop with a spare partition waiting for WinXP, to
> >> install from Dell OEM disks that came originally.
> >
> > I would be very careful about installing from OEM disks. My HP OEM
> > disks will actually blow ALL the partitions on the drive away,
> > repartition and reformat the whole drive back to the way it was
> > shipped from the factory.
>
> What he said.
>
> > Better if you can find a regular retail copy
> > of XP.
>
> Better if he can find a regular _OEM_ copy of XP.
>
> > Note that in the case of this HP Vista license it only works
> > with the OEM install. The license is no good with a normal copy of
> > Vista.
>
>
> Right. Same with XP.
>
[8<]
> The OEM license numbers don't work with a retail installation CD &
> vice-versa. So what Michael needs is a Microsoft-branded OEM
> installation CD. These work with any OEM license number (even if the
> sticker says "Dell" or "HP" on it), as long as the Home /
> Professional versioning is correct.
>
> I would suggest - as long as you live in Sweden - the famous 9-in-1
> OEM CD, from your favourite swashbuckling sea-dog. Arrrrr, me
> hearties! This be perfectly legal because the the sticker on the
> underside of the the laptop is the license for XP, not the CD itself.
>
> Stroller.

Thanks to you folks for all the great info. Just happen to have an OEM
copy of XP Pro kicking about and a sticker on the bottom of the laptop
with a product key for the same. Looks like I'm good to go.

Cheers,

--
|\ /|     |  |       ~ ~
| \/ |     |---|       `|` ?
|   |ichael |  |iggins   \^ /
michael.higgins[at]evolone[dot]org
--
gentoo-user@(protected)