WindowsXP and broadband
 

Anybody on BT broadband thinking of changing to WindowsXP, a couple of tips to make it easier for yourself.
1 Get the latest driver from Alcatel before starting. WindowsXP is NT based and uses a different driver to 98.
2 Uninstall Norton Systemworks 2001 before starting. It cannot be used in XP although 2002 can, however uninstalling clears your email addresses through norton any allows them to be used again.

Finally, with XP my mouse is b***erd, after I startup with a Code10 message. Uninstalling it and reinstalling clears the problem but it reappears next startup. Any ideas?

Overall view after 10hrs use; I like it.

Never buy an operating system on release day! (sorry) :confused:

Well my 'guru' says that it is the business. But somehow I just cannot bring myself to invest in it yet. Spanners is probably right as usual.

I can get it from the US as a "gift" for £20 less than here. And trolling round the net tonight it seems that Amazon are selling the XP Home upgrade for £84.99 - but still only a fiver saved.

I think I might wait for the comments to arrive here.

So all you brave ones who have purchased XP in all it's forms - your opinions will be welcome.

The cheapest I have found it for (and I haven't ordered it or called in about it) is from www.misco.co.uk - providing you upgrade from Windows 98.

And there was I thinking that i got a bargain at UK£75.00 for the Upgrade home edition....

My initial impression is that it looks good, but I will get back to you when I finish downloading all the new drivers.

Mutt. :)

Mutt: Where did you get your copy from then?

I have been using XP for about 2 months now. It is by far THE most stable, and well put together OS I've ever used. If you're using WIN 2000 I wouldn't run right out and grab it, but if you are on 98 I certainly would. It really works well.

Advice. Stay away from "upgrading" your current OS... load it from scratch for optimum stability and a reduction in headaches as you sort out driver issues. Upgrading an installed OS has always been... well, it kinda works..lol My last bit of advice, make sure you have enough RAM. I would say 256 at least. (ram's super cheap right now btw)

WDTBD

Sorry, I should have said, it was purchased in CompuMe, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Mutt :)

:D Mutt....How much did you pay?


http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/aircraft/FMSbeer.gif

On a different note i believe you have to contact Microsoft to activate XP and they only allow this on one computer. How can i get installed on both my home pc and laptop, will Microsoft let you do this ???? any one come across this yet.

up: you will need to purchase two copies.

Welcome to the world of legal software. By virtue of your post you have illuded to the fact that you may or are currently illegally licensed.

777 if you read up a bit you will see Mutt posted:

777AV8R,

Would you believe me if I told you that I actually purchased a LEGITIMATE copy of this program for 399 riyals??

This is actually ground breaking stuff for me, its the first legitimate operating system that I have EVER purchased!

WDTBD, 777AV8R is an ex resident of this part of the world, I guess that he knows that the going rate for ANY software CD is usually around a tenner!

Mutt :)

Buttons, No, My Toshiba laptop has the liscenced copy of 98 that came with it, my desktop uses a liscenced full copy 95. I would like to upgrade, but in this age of mobility why should i have to buy 2 copies.
Can't companies pay a surcharge to install on multiple machines???

upupnaway: Yes - we have a "site license" - installable from network servers, but I doubt such a thing is available for only 2 machines. Site licenses are extremely expensive, too. Convenience comes at a price!

[ 29 October 2001: Message edited by: sanjosebaz ]

http://www.misco.co.uk/features/Micr...sion_table.gif

You can't upgrade from 95 - you have to buy the full version!

For the info of those using Optus Cable in Oz, I emailed Optus asking when they would provide a software update to support XP. Their reply:

"Unfortunatley Optus@Home does not support XP, and at the moment there is no ETA on the time or date we will support XP."

Cheers.

upupnaway

IANAL, but in the past you have sometimes been able to legally install one copy of software on two machines, a desktop machine and a laptop, under the logic that you aren't going to be using both at the same time. More frequently however companies just turned a blind eye to what you did and left licence complience up to you.

MS have now woken up to the fact that they can make a lot more money by making users buy two copies to install on two machines. It's not really new - if you're a games player then you'll often have to buy two copies of a game in order to frag your mate across a LAN, because the game will not run unless the CD is in the drive. MS dont do this, but instead force you to register the copy with them in order for it to continue running after 30 days (I think) are up.

Once you register your copy, MS will send you an "unlock" code which is based on your existing hardware configuration. Up to 6 "minor changes" are every 120 days are OK, IIRC, although the meaning of "minor" is a bit unclear. The exact limits are defined on a server somewhere in MSland and can be changed at any time as they see fit.

Change your machine completely and you have to go through the process again. I'm not sure how they force the old machine to uninstall a registered copy.

[ 29 October 2001: Message edited by: Evo7 ]

Hi Guys,
I'm running Win Me (which I hate because of the instability) and would upgrade to the XP but I read from page 308 of "Computer Shopper" (issue 166, Dec 2001)

QUOTE
The upgrade prices require you to have a retail version of Win 98, SE, Me, NT, 2000.
A 'Restore CD' supplied with a PC do NOT qualify.
UNQUOTE

Reading some of the posts, it appears nobody has had a problem going from a pre-installed (Restore CD only) machine to XP - is that the experience ?

£180 is a bit of a sod, seeing as I bought in good faith Win Me pre-installed with only the 'Restore CD' available should it go tits-up (which it has more than once!).

Any advice more than welcome.

Cheers
TG

Tartan Giant

If you can wait a few days, I can tell you exactly what happens. I've got a new PC arriving with 98se pre-installed (long story), so I've gone out and picked up a copy of XP home. I'll see if it barfs when trying to install over a "restore-only" installation of 98, but I actually own a full copy of 98 anyway so it will install one way or the other.