Pre VALIDATION XP Disc

I do not know if this is so, (or, practical) .. BUT, is the old "Original" XP validation free ??? ....

and if so , ...

Does ANYONE have a copy/s I could acquire ...

WHY, ... We are setting up some friends on 5 properties that are out in the middle of Queensland, (280km from a town) .. NO Net available and the phones are almost non-existent, they are currently on Win98 and whilst they wont,for some time yet, need the more current XP's.. upgrading to XP would at least give them a grounding when the reliable phones and the net FINALLY gets out there
.Sapphi.

 

you say that your pc's are running win98- will they be able to run XP ok or have you upgraded them? You dont have to pay to validate a copy of xp

 

XP before service pack 2 doesn't have the validation crap.

 

Hardware/Boxes ARE capable of running XP .. Upgraded some months ago on the (Vauge) promise of MAYBE lines will be upgraded SOON .. (YEAH !!! RIGHT !!) ...
really think that the computer store only wanted to sell more product before they closed up shop and left (the nearest) town ... Some people SUCK !!
.Sapphi.

 

Validation on SP2 still gives you 30 days grace time. So that is 30 days to get a code. Even in Queensland I'm sure that is possible.

What you really have to worry about it is "WGA" but the validation is a piece of case.

Besides if you have a laptop so old that it is running Win 98, you re better off with Win 2000 which is smaller and less resource intensive than Win XP in any case. It is basically an earlier version of XP (Win 2000 is NT 5.0 and XP is NT 5.1 with bloat and eye-candy added on). I used Win 2000 and it is rock solid.

Or better yet the can go Linux.

 

I second the idea of going with 2000. Less bloated, better on older hardware, and no WGA. Or if they won't mind, and don't use a lot of complex Windows-specific apps, Linux (Ubuntu being a popular choice) is an even better idea.

If you must go with XP, there is no WGA before SP2, but since pre-SP2 XP is so horrendously insecure, you're not really ready for "the net" unless you have it - kind of a Catch-22. If you or someone you know is a student at a university, see if you can get a Student Edition of XP Pro SP2. It's volume licensed and thusly ignored by WGA, to my knowledge (my copy is, anyways).

 

Presumably there was a first time they used a computer, rode a bike, had sex, drove a car, etc. They survived all - and Queensland too, I dont think Linux will tax them.

In fact it would actually give them something to do out there in the boondocks. Change is good - dont be scared.