Windows XP?

Hey all,

I just salvaged an old computer from a friend of mine and I'm in the process of cleaning it up so that I can give it to my girlfriend as a Christmas gift. It's a pretty alright computer, just perfect for what she's looking to have one for, but there's just one problem.. the only thing he has on there is Windows 98. Now I know the computer can handle something more advanced than 98 because when he bought it it came with ME edition or something - but he went and lost the disc.

Does anyone know how I could put Windows XP from my computer onto the new one? It seems kind of pointless to go buying Windows all over again, but I'm not sure if my startup disc will work or not.. mine is for a Dell, the computer is a Gateway. I know, I know, crappy PCs

Thanks for your help (& your time),
Ganja Goo

 

Cul De Sac, as far as I cans see, hitherto.

 

you should have a "system recovery" or system restore disk, "for reinstallation of windows"

you MIGHT be able to use that. maybe.

 

Be glad he lost ME ....windows 98 was still reliable, not fast , but robust!
I'd prefer win.98 over 2000/ME any time.I've got both, one with 2000, one with 98 and one with...that's right!95..... However, I know nothing about XP! Sorry...^^;

 

There is no possible way to "transfer" windows from your comp to that one. For this you are GOING to need the disk. Your recovery disk is made specifically for your comp, since it came preloaded with Windows XP. Its kind of a "roll back" disc. In case you mess something up, you can roll it back to the factory specs, and all will be well. Sorry to say it, but you'll have to find the OS somewhere...isnt very hard these days. Maybe a friend would have a pirated copy?

 

Look though your disks, sometimes they ship a 'real' copy of XP instead of just the OEM copy, you can use that to install it again...you will have to call the activation cent er though and tell them that your hard drive crashed and you are 'reinstalling' on your replacement system so they will give you the code....

of course you could always go down to walmart and BUY a copy! lol

 

I hate oem copies. both my dell and sony versions sucked compared to the target purchased version I had on my last pc.

 

I think that's possibly the first time I've ever heard anyone describe the hunk of shite that was windows 98 as robust!

 

just get ahold of a winxp corporate cd.

i've got the same serial as about 10,000 people, but i can windows update all i want.

 

well...than mine must be special. It never crashes on me....slow, but atleast I can rely on mine!
I've talked with many people, many of who agree.
it's a good OS (for microsoft...that is.)....I prefer it over 2000. But...like I said...
I don't know ANYTHING about XP....except that it has cool graphics!

 

'nuff respect, but I work in IT. W98 is widely considered to be an absolutely terrible operating system. Just the mention of its name is enough to make grown computer experts weep.

 

I switched from W98 to W2000 pro. W98 was the must unreliable OS I've ever used. I'm not sure your older computer will handle WXP. I tried it on my older one and it didn't work right. Something to do with how the system is threaded. More complexly than older systems can handle.

 

At least Win 98 gives you more control and doesn't lie so much. It may have many programm crashes. But atleast they're not computer crashes like with Win ME.....
And I think I should know
for I grew up in a computer freak family that worked with UNIX back in the old days, and who were also programmers back then who studied computing, and became proffessionals at it.. Yeah....computer geeks...all over my house...it's fun asking holes in their brains...

 

Well you should, but apparently you don't. Windows 98 is notorious for OS-level crashes ('blue screens of death'). Any IT professional will tell you the same thing. Not that Win ME is any better. If anything, it's marginally worse. Win 2000 is rock solid though.

 

try linux
its free. you can download it free. and if this was a salvaged machine, it may not be able to run xp. linux should be fine

 

Yeah Mr Migu is right, try linux on it... Linux will run on damn near anything, is free, and quite stable...

 

Oh and win 98 is crap, though much better than ME, ME is just the shittiest OS to ever be made, but it is practicaly the same as 98 anyway...

 

If ye' guys think so

But my *special* Win 98 never had a blue screen of death. Only a bunch of program crashes...

And yeah, Linux rocks!

 

Linux is the bomb, I have gotton Linux kernel 2.4 with fluxbox GUI frontend to run on a 486 with 32MB's or ram, I could listen to music, surf the web. use OpenOffice (for those of you that don't know open office is just like Microsoft office only you don't have to bend over (or steal it) to get it).. But yes imagen if i can all of those normal tasks on a junk as 486 what your g/f's computer would be like. Just remember Gnome and KDE love ram (as does XP), if your short on that either GET MORE lol, or run a stream line gui like fluxbox......
As for windows, take it from a guy that is forced to program on that platform, WIndows (all versions) are crap... The kernel has changed twice, thats' all, real cutting edge stuff there, :O....

 

as for getting ahold of windwos cd's though the 'corporate' (Volume Licensing) versions are the best for no-headaches about your license and stuff, you just need to weasel a VL code from somewhere