Windows XP Home Edition?

[wdhpr]

I'm a bit perplexed with this thread. I have installed Windows7 premium on a Hp and a Compaq computer. The windows 7 disks were for Dell computers (OEM) and therefore the price for each disk was a about $50.00 USD each. They installed with out a hitch and I had NO hardware issues. So do the issues you are mentioning specifically have to do with XP?

[Sope]

I've successfully re-installed XP Home on a number of desktop PC's using a slipstreamed SP3 installation disc I originally created from a HP machine following this internet guide.
All the PC's were from various different manufacturers and all activated without problem using their respective original licence keys.
The only difficulty can be in finding the appropriate drivers required for hardware components not covered by Windows, e.g. sound cards.

[v.laurie]

Originally Posted by wdhpr

I'm a bit perplexed with this thread. I have installed Windows7 premium on a Hp and a Compaq computer. The windows 7 disks were for Dell computers (OEM) and therefore the price for each disk was a about $50.00 USD each. They installed with out a hitch and I had NO hardware issues. So do the issues you are mentioning specifically have to do with XP?

In my experience, Windows 7 has much better hardware support than XP.

[Doobie]

Originally Posted by Sope

I've successfully re-installed XP Home on a number of desktop PC's using a slipstreamed SP3 installation disc I originally created from a HP machine following this internet guide.
All the PC's were from various different manufacturers and all activated without problem using their respective original licence keys.
The only difficulty can be in finding the appropriate drivers required for hardware components not covered by Windows, e.g. sound cards.

You might have noticed that you're not using a legit Windows install disk. It's actually trivial to edit the install files to allow that kind of behavior. But, I suspect it's against the forum rules to advocate bypassing copy protections or simply grabbing a torrent of a pre-registered copy.

[Sope]

Originally Posted by Doobie

YI suspect it's against the forum rules to advocate bypassing copy protections or simply grabbing a torrent of a pre-registered copy.

I'm not aware that I've bypassed any copy protections in creating my own install disk from my own PC.
Neither do I believe it's against Microsoft's licence agreement to reinstall the original OS on a PC and re-activate it with it's own original licence key.

[Remah]

Microsoft's original EULA for pre-installed Windows XP Home Edition allows a backup copy only if there was no backup originally supplied with the PC. As most pre-installed systems had a backup partition then it is more likely that it is not legitimate to create a Windows XP install disk from an installed version of Windows:

Back-up Copy. IF MANUFACTURER HAS NOT INCLUDED A BACK-UP COPY OF THE SOFTWARE WITH THE COMPUTER ON PHYSICAL MEDIA (e.g. CD OR PARTITIONED HARD DRIVE), YOU MAY MAKE A SINGLE BACK-UP COPY OF THE SOFTWARE. You may use the back-up copy solely for your archival purposes and to reinstall the SOFTWARE on the COMPUTER. Except as expressly provided in this EULA or by local law, you may not otherwise make copies of the SOFTWARE, including the printed materials accompanying the SOFTWARE. You may not loan, rent, lease, lend or otherwise transfer the CD or back-up copy to another user.

Even if there was no backup supplied with the computer, any attempt to be selective in what you "back up" means that it is no longer a backup. Likewise if the install disk is intended to be used on another computer:

Separation of Components. The SOFTWARE is licensed as a single product. Its component parts may not be separated for use on more than one computer.

[Remah]

Originally Posted by Sope

I'm not aware that I've bypassed any copy protections in creating my own install disk from my own PC.
Neither do I believe it's against Microsoft's licence agreement to reinstall the original OS on a PC and re-activate it with it's own original licence key.

I think that Doobie is entirely correct in pointing out that you are breaking the license agreement by using the install disk on many computers:

Originally Posted by Sope

I've successfully re-installed XP Home on a number of desktop PC's using a slipstreamed SP3 installation disc I originally created from a HP machine following this internet guide.
All the PC's were from various different manufacturers and all activated without problem using their respective original licence keys.

[Sope]

Originally Posted by Remah

I think that Doobie is entirely correct in pointing out that you are breaking the license agreement by using the install disk on many computers:

Ok, I stand corrected. Thanks for taking the time to look up the relevant information and highlighting it.

My intention wasn't to break any EULA. I was merely looking for a way of performing a fresh installation of XP on an old PC that has a legitimate licence key but no installation disks and a damaged OS or HDD.

[Remah]

It's a difficult situation. Even if you buy a second-hand disk the seller is likely to be breaking their EULA so you may not get a legitimate disk that way either.

Legally it is clear that consumer end-users don't have many options once Microsoft and vendors no longer provide install disks. This leaves you in a kind of black hole where you may not be able to comply with the EULA to get a legitimate Windows install disk. This happens because Microsoft's Support Lifecycle Policy makes it clear that support for consumer versions Windows (e.g. XP Home) only runs for 5 years or 2 years after the next major product release. Windows 7, rather than Windows Vista, is taken to be the replacement for Windows XP. That's why Windows XP Home mainstream support ended on 14 April 2009.

The problem is that most of us rely on extended support which is explicitly stated is for users of business and developer products. That's why the consumer install CDs stop being available well before extended support ends, which for Windows XP is on 8 April 2014.

In practice, many people resolve the problem by taking a moral position that Microsoft has failed to provide adequate support so they are morally entitled to do it themselves and create or use any install disk they want. Most people wouldn't do it if they thought Microsoft would pursue legal remedies.

The most legitimate solution to the problem is to upgrade to a fully supported version of Windows such as 7 or 8.

[joeguru]

What does any of this have to do with freeware?