Install first, license later?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chuck
  • Start date Start date
C

Chuck

I'm trying to help a person who is considering upgrading
to WinXP, but hasn't made up their mind. They don't want
to spend the money if it doesn't do what they want.
Anyway, since you can wait 30 days before activating,
here's what I was thinking (and I want to know if this
would work):

I could install XP using my own CD on their computer. If
they like it, they could go buy it, and activate it with
the product key that they buy. If they don't like it,
then they can just reformat and go back to 98.

I'm thinking that this should work, but the question is,
will any product key for "Home" work with any other
installation of "Home" from another CD? Does upgrade vs.
full edition matter? What about OEM vs. retail?

Thanks for any help.
 
Windows XP Product Keys are not interchangeable. You must use a
"retail" Product Key with a "retail" XP CD. You cannot use a Product
Key meant for an "Upgrade" version with a "full" version CD. Also,
you cannot use an "OEM" Product Key with a "retail" CD and vice
versa.

Your best bet is to purchase an "Upgrade Version" of Windows XP
Home Edition for around $99.00. I'm sure your friend will much
prefer using it over Windows 98, which is shortly going to be
unsupported anyway by Microsoft.

--
Nicholas

----------------------------------------------------------------------


| I'm trying to help a person who is considering upgrading
| to WinXP, but hasn't made up their mind. They don't want
| to spend the money if it doesn't do what they want.
| Anyway, since you can wait 30 days before activating,
| here's what I was thinking (and I want to know if this
| would work):
|
| I could install XP using my own CD on their computer. If
| they like it, they could go buy it, and activate it with
| the product key that they buy. If they don't like it,
| then they can just reformat and go back to 98.
|
| I'm thinking that this should work, but the question is,
| will any product key for "Home" work with any other
| installation of "Home" from another CD? Does upgrade vs.
| full edition matter? What about OEM vs. retail?
|
| Thanks for any help.
 
Back
Top