Operating systems

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jason

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My parents have windows millennium edition on their computer but i want to put windows xp on there,can i use the back-up disc i got with my new computer,instead of forking out for the new OS?

Any ideas would be great,they have just got broadband but the computer is having serious critical errors and they dont have the windows millennium disc.

Thanks
Jason
 
No - you need to buy the software, as the licence has to be activated.

You may be able to get away with an upgrade, but you will need to buy something.
 
Anybody got a cheating way to do it?
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Not here they haven't, and if they have, it would be deleted if it was posted.
Just go and buy it, it saves hassle and you wont be breaking the law.
 
Jason,

As Roy says, it is not worth the hassle of dodgy Windows copies. Firstly you would be breaking the law. Second you wouldn't have access to any updates(and we all know how often this is required).

What do they use the PC for? If it is just for email/Internet, Office and photo editing there is a free OS that will do this without any of the security issues that come with Windows. i.e. NO viruses, Spyware, Malware. All software is effectively free. It will do a lot more as well, it all depends on how much you want to install. Because of its inbuilt security it would be difficult if not impossible for them to mess it up. It is also extremely stable( I had a old P2 300 running for ~3 years without even a reboot)

It is called Linux. There are many distributions, probably the most end-user friendly is Mandrake although both Suse and Fedora have their fans.

Ian
 
They will only be using it for surfing and emailing.

I'll have a read up on linux!

Thanks
 
Jason,
What sort of kit does yuour parents have? i.e. what spec PC, make/models of graphics/sound/modem/owt else.

For newbies I would recommend Mandrake, they have even gone out of their way to make it look like XP.

www.mandrakelinux.com

If you wnat to ask any questions feel free to PM me

Ian
 
Is there any way it can be emulated?

My computer has dual OS (98se and XP), and I don't want to start repartitioning my drive
 
The whole point of running linux is so that you ARE NOT running windows!! Emulating linux from windows is pointless. I am not sure about mandrake linux but suse linux will automatically partition your hardrive and give you a boot menu so you can pick between your windows installs and your linux installs.
 
Decided to get xp on it,got a guy coming out tomorow to do it.

£30 for the upgrade!

Thanks for your help.
Jason
 
Footnote:

It was missing dll's......cant understand what happened to them.........that was the problem with it.
 
Roy said:
The whole point of running linux is so that you ARE NOT running windows!! Emulating linux from windows is pointless. I am not sure about mandrake linux but suse linux will automatically partition your hardrive and give you a boot menu so you can pick between your windows installs and your linux installs.
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Maybe this should have been done a year ago when I first got the machine.

I only have a 80gb hdd, 10 of which is for 98. I don't really want to start again with a fresh install - it takes longer and longer to copy all the stuff I need to CD, and then back on to the pc again!

Anyone got any tips on how to do a backup quickly?
 
Anyone got any tips on how to do a backup quickly?
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Yup - external hard drive. I have 2 solutions for this, 1 tiny ibm thing which is usb2 and has a 40gig laptop drive in it and 1 5 1/4 external drive bay that takes full size 'large' hard drives. These things are not that expensive really, especially when you consider the time it takes you to do backups to cd!


Hmmm... thinking again... I am laptop based so I have to go external hard drive, cheapest and fastest option for you is to shove another drive in your computer and copy everything across.
 
If you are shoving another disk in the PC then why noy just stick Linux on that, No need to repartition the main drive at all. Disks are dirt cheap nowadays, £60 will buy you oodles of space. If you want to put it in an external USB case they are ~£30.

Mandrake will also repartition automatically and add the bootloader etc. It is probaby one of the easiest installs going. I reckon on about an hour start to finish including all the software, Office suites, Browsers, Email clients, Games, etc.


Jason, I too think you won't get the license or disk for your £30. In other words, it will be a dodgy copy. One where when you connect to update you will be blown out at best, reported to FAST at worst.

ian
 
WillowTheWhisp said:
Is this a professional guy? Would a pro sell a dodgy copy? That's not a very nice thing to do.
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Not many pro's would do the job for £30 even without supplying the software.
 
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