Someone ensmarten me on Windows

So, I just took delivery of my new laptop (2.5ghz dual-core 17" MacBook Pro), and I want to create a partition to run Windows. I already have a copy of Windows that I use on my MacPro tower. Do I need to go buy a new box of Windows? If I install the system I already own on another computer, will Bill Gates come to my house and put a plastic bag over my head and beat me with a pillowcase full of C batteries?

I am not smart in the ways of the Window

jg

legally?........yes

if you do this I hope you get XP

Okay, so let's say I have this friend. It just so happens that this friend shares a name, wife and DNA with me, but that's beside the point.

Anyway, this friend likes XP and doesn't want to have XP on one machine and Vista on another. And apparently you can't buy XP anymore in stores. So this friend installs the copy he has on his other machine. What happens?

If the answer is "Microsoft makes him buy a new license over the interweb tube" then that's probably acceptable since he saved a drive to a horrible store.

If the answer is "His computer explodes and he gets SARS on his toilet place" then that's not so good.

So what are my, I mean his, options here?

jg

My copy of XP stopped installing on about the 5th computer. At that point, I found an old laptop. I typed the key on the laptop's sticker in, and it worked perfectly. I even managed to beat Bill Gates when he came, because I filled my pillowcase with D batteries.

Idk... I have a bootlegged copy of Windows 2000 that is on my old compooper and at least two others that i know of... nobody came after us. But you cannot register it.

I'd look for a more definitive answer than mine, but i'd say go for it.

You'll have to use a different key to do it legally. You'll have to get a key changer, keygen, WPA disabler and patching tool to do it illegally. The illegal way is easier in the long run.

There's so many bootlegged copies of expensive software getting around these days, it's barely even illegal. Heck, my computer repair guy offers illegit copies of windows, and he runs a proper shop, albeit, a backstreet one.

JG Pasterjak wrote: Okay, so let's say I have this friend. It just so happens that this friend shares a name, wife and DNA with me, but that's beside the point. Anyway, this friend likes XP and doesn't want to have XP on one machine and Vista on another. And apparently you can't buy XP anymore in stores. So this friend installs the copy he has on his other machine. What happens? If the answer is "Microsoft makes him buy a new license over the interweb tube" then that's probably acceptable since he saved a drive to a horrible store. If the answer is "His computer explodes and he gets SARS on his toilet place" then that's not so good. So what are my, I mean his, options here? jg

If you take an XP disc and install it it will give you 30 days to validate it. Mostly this is done on the internet but I believe it can be done over the phone as well. When it validates it looks at the particular hardware (and If I am not mistaken the ACTUAL hardware, not just make/model) and registers it with that CD key. If you try and install it on a second computer it will not let you activate it with the same CD key.

I tried this when I built my computer using my dads XP disc.

Also, don't be afraid of vista if you have a new computer. 99% of the people who complain about it either only used it the first month or so it was out then ditched it, or have just watched one to many Mac commercials.

Every person I have ever questioned about hating vista couldn't go into any more detail then "It does work", or complained about UAC, or just plain user error. As long as you aren't trying to run it on a computer built in the early 90s it will be fine. It works better on my laptop then XP.

my only issue with vista is that it is a memory monger, great if you have 2-3 gigs of ram, but a bitt slower on less

get a corporate key code

I ordered a system builder version of XP for $89 from NewEgg. I have nothing against Vista per se, but the tower already has XP and I'd like the laptop to be on the same thing.

jg

My Vista laptop seems to work OK. Yeah, it's slower than XP and I keep thratening to switch it over.

My one major bitch: if you leave the hand or arrow (either one) sitting on a box or link or whatever, after a short time (5-10 seconds) the damn thing will 'click' all by itself and do whatever the hand happens to be perched on. I can't find any way to turn that off.

Jensenman wrote: My Vista laptop seems to work OK. Yeah, it's slower than XP and I keep thratening to switch it over. My one major bitch: if you leave the hand or arrow (either one) sitting on a box or link or whatever, after a short time (5-10 seconds) the damn thing will 'click' all by itself and do whatever the hand happens to be perched on. I can't find any way to turn that off.

what you wanna do is first go to the control panel.
then access your "Ease of access center"
there should be a link in there that says "make the mouse easier to use" click that.
uncheck the box that says "activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse"

i hate Vista. It is going to do it's daily update in 29 minutes. i will probably be in the middle of my most enlightening post ever.

I think you reached the epitome of enlightenment with your musings on funnel cakes and their aroma.

EastCoastMojo wrote:

Jensenman wrote: My Vista laptop seems to work OK. Yeah, it's slower than XP and I keep thratening to switch it over. My one major bitch: if you leave the hand or arrow (either one) sitting on a box or link or whatever, after a short time (5-10 seconds) the damn thing will 'click' all by itself and do whatever the hand happens to be perched on. I can't find any way to turn that off.

what you wanna do is first go to the control panel. then access your "Ease of access center" there should be a link in there that says "make the mouse easier to use" click that. uncheck the box that says "activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse"

Daaanng. It's that easy? Thanks a bunch!

Hey, Wally: that's why I turned the Automatic Update off. It will ask a few times, then park itself in the tray and continue with no input on your part. And yes it will do that right in the middle of something earth shaking that you have been working on for ages.

A funnel cake man should have known that.

EDIT: the hover activate box was already unchecked. So I went into Mouse and found something called Click Lock which was turned off. I turned it on, sonofagun that did it.

I put Vista on a compy kit I built from Tiger Direct. I like it a lot, although I don't think I would try it with any less memory than I have. (2 GB)

I too have found when you ask people why they dont like it, they say it doesn't work, and cant elaborate from there.

I figure they fear change.

Joey

Here are a couple of ideas:

The cheap and less legal one - Just install XP on the new machine. Be sure the old one is in no way connected to the internet for this process and register it. Keep it unplugged while you download all the needed updates. You should then be able to use both machines fully. Worst case scenario is that you are asked to buy a new key.

My girlfriends computer crapped out a while back (CPU fan got clogged with cat fur, and the CPU fried). In the process of playing musical-computers, I hooked up an older machine that turned out to be running XP with the same key as my primary computer. Seems to work fine. I don't download anything that will "let me know if I'm running a piece of software that isn't registered, and help me get a legitimate copy."

I have not downloaded any updates for the older computer since hooking it up. I suspect that's when I might get called on my nefarious schemes. Other computers are all running 2k.

The more expensive but safer choice - Go on Craigslist. Find someone who "upgraded" to vista and is unloading a copy of XP with a valid key. Buy it for $50.

Salanis wrote: My girlfriends computer crapped out a while back (CPU fan got clogged with cat fur, and the CPU fried).

Now that is funny....you need to give her something else to do in bed besides surf the inter-pipes.

Xceler8x wrote:

Salanis wrote: My girlfriends computer crapped out a while back (CPU fan got clogged with cat fur, and the CPU fried).

Now that is funny....you need to give her something else to do in bed besides surf the inter-pipes.

Hmmm... maybe she's surfing for nasty lil' ideas.

Jensenman wrote:

Xceler8x wrote:

Salanis wrote: My girlfriends computer crapped out a while back (CPU fan got clogged with cat fur, and the CPU fried).

Now that is funny....you need to give her something else to do in bed besides surf the inter-pipes.

Hmmm... maybe she's surfing for nasty lil' ideas.

Wouldn't that be nice. Usually she's surfing for new pajamas ... and boring flannel ones at that, not the fun kind of sleepwear.

Nah, she just never turns it off.

Salanis wrote: Wouldn't that be nice. Usually she's surfing for new pajamas ... and boring flannel ones at that, not the fun kind of sleepwear.

Buy'em small enough and they get fun...

Ok, ok, ok...back on topic.

I would suggest running something like VMware player on your Mac but unfortunately Mac isn't supported by VMware. I'd think your other best option would be to use Bootcamp. Bootcamp has been in use for quite awhile, and from what my mac friends tell me, works really well.

Xceler8x wrote: Buy'em small enough and they get fun... Ok, ok, ok...back on topic. I would suggest running something like VMware player on your Mac but unfortunately Mac isn't supported by VMware. I'd think your other best option would be to use Bootcamp. Bootcamp has been in use for quite awhile, and from what my mac friends tell me, works really well.

O rly?

http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/

There is also VirtualBox

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VirtualBox

Well dang! I'm glad to be wrong. I like VMWare.