Yet Another Installation Query?

[jonah]

Sorry but this XP / OEM / Activation stuff is confusing to say the
least, can somebody advise before I wipe this PC.

HP Machine with an HP_XP Pro SP2 OEM Installation, got the CD Serial
on the sticker but no CD or Recovery Disk plus I do not want the HP
version installed I want to get rid of it all including the 48Mb Mouse
Drivers FFS! and the Symantec 2005 AV has to go so I need a full
re-install ideally.

Can I use a generic OEM XP Pro SP2 and use the HP CD Serial to install
and activate?

TIA

Jonah

 

[steam3801]

Sorry but this XP / OEM / Activation stuff is confusing to say the
least, can somebody advise before I wipe this PC.

HP Machine with an HP_XP Pro SP2 OEM Installation, got the CD Serial
on the sticker but no CD or Recovery Disk plus I do not want the HP
version installed I want to get rid of it all including the 48Mb Mouse
Drivers FFS! and the Symantec 2005 AV has to go so I need a full
re-install ideally.

Can I use a generic OEM XP Pro SP2 and use the HP CD Serial to install
and activate?

No.

 

[Malke]

No.

I don't know why you say "No". I believe it will work just fine with the
generic OEM and the HP number. I've done this for clients plenty of
times.

Malke

 

[steam3801]

I don't know why you say "No". I believe it will work just fine with the
generic OEM and the HP number. I've done this for clients plenty of
times.

Withdrawn - I menatlly (and conveniently) failed to comprehend the
inclusion of the word "generic".

 

[GHalleck]

Sorry but this XP / OEM / Activation stuff is confusing to say the
least, can somebody advise before I wipe this PC.

HP Machine with an HP_XP Pro SP2 OEM Installation, got the CD Serial
on the sticker but no CD or Recovery Disk plus I do not want the HP
version installed I want to get rid of it all including the 48Mb Mouse
Drivers FFS! and the Symantec 2005 AV has to go so I need a full
re-install ideally.

Can I use a generic OEM XP Pro SP2 and use the HP CD Serial to install
and activate?

MIght not work because Microsoft could have blocked the
activation of the generic OEM XP CDROM whilst using the
HP product key. Not sure what the Microsoft activation
monkeys will say when you describe what was done. They
are taught not to think. But the generic product key will
be OK with the generic OEM XP disc.

The otherwise solution is to use the HP recovery system
and then delete the unwanted garbage through the Add/Remove
applet.

 

[Malke]

MIght not work because Microsoft could have blocked the
activation of the generic OEM XP CDROM whilst using the
HP product key. Not sure what the Microsoft activation
monkeys will say when you describe what was done. They
are taught not to think. But the generic product key will
be OK with the generic OEM XP disc.

The otherwise solution is to use the HP recovery system
and then delete the unwanted garbage through the Add/Remove
applet.

As long as the OP uses a generic OEM disk and his Product Key from the
sticker on the machine, he'll be fine.

Malke

 

[jonah]

Sorry but this XP / OEM / Activation stuff is confusing to say the
least, can somebody advise before I wipe this PC.

HP Machine with an HP_XP Pro SP2 OEM Installation, got the CD Serial
on the sticker but no CD or Recovery Disk plus I do not want the HP
version installed I want to get rid of it all including the 48Mb Mouse
Drivers FFS! and the Symantec 2005 AV has to go so I need a full
re-install ideally.

Can I use a generic OEM XP Pro SP2 and use the HP CD Serial to install
and activate?

TIA

Jonah

So "yes" and possibly convince MS to activate it then.

Thanks guys.

I have a spare 80Gb HDD so I will clone the HP Drive before wiping it
just in case. Thought it was probably OK but like I said its very
confusing.

As for removing the HP crap from the existing installation that would
take forever, they stick it in folders all over the place + add help
files and stuff everywhere linked to HP support. Even the MB network
connection is run by 38 Mbs worth of Broadcom bloatware complete with
enormous UI for something regular users hardly ever touch.

Can't get over 48Mb Mouse Drivers we used to run entire computers on
less than that

Even worse I can find nowhere on the entire machine that tells me what
the model is which is question no1 on the HP support site.



Jonah