Windows XP pre-service pack 1 or 2

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Guest

I own a copy of XP that was released prior to service pack 1 or 2. Does
anyone know if microsoft will exchange the old disk for a newer version OR do
I have to pay the upgrade price at the local Best Buy.
 
I went to the 1st URL you listed and scanned the process very quickly. I want
to see if I understand what this procees will do. My interpetation is that it
creates a boot CD that will allow you to trick the hard drive on a new
install into thinking you have the full version. Thus it will allow you to
fully partition a 500 GB HD, rather than being limited to the threshold of XP
w/no service packs. Then after you trick the system with the boot CD you then
install the XP cd followed by the service pack two cd. Am I anywhere in the
ball park in my thinking?
 
Hi TonyM,

No, you're not in the ballpark at all. This process will integrate the
Service Pack files with the pre-SP setup files from your install CD, thus
creating a bootable install CD that includes SP2.



Regards,
 
Thus it will allow you to
fully partition a 500 GB HD, rather than being limited to the threshold of XP
w/no service packs.
Click to expand...

What threshold? If formatting NTFS, the only limitation against preparing a
500GB partition would be imposed by BIOS.

From an old but relevant article about NTFS (FAT and HPFS):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/100108

"Underlying hardware limitations may impose additional partition size
limitations in any file system. Particularly, a boot partition can be only
7.8 GB in size, and there is a 2-terabyte limitation in the partition
table."
 
I assumed that the OP was referring to the 137G limit due to the lack of
48-bit LBA support.



Regards,
 
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