Before I try to set up XP Mode on a Home Premium box I'd like to know if there's any reason I could NOT use an OEM installation of XP. I've got an XP CD from an old HP/Compaq box plus the box with the key on it. The CD says it requires a restore.
Am I looking at a piece of cake or a large headache and unsuccessful installation?
Thanks.
George
Strictly speaking, an OEM copy of Windows is tied to the computer it was first installed on and there's every possibility it may not install on another computer.
That said, there's nothing to stop you trying, but if it succeeds you'll still have to get it activated.
XP Mode on your Windows 7 computer gets round any activation or installation issues, but you won't get the performance from it that you would from a physical installation of XP.
Try it is about the best advice I can offer you.
This tutorial will help: Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP
Thanks for your reply. Since the effort was going to be on my wife's machine and she's leery of modifications, I think I'll avoid the experiment. It was an effort to get an old application onto her machine that's now accessed via remote connection to the old XP box. That box is terribly slow even after I've stripped it down and tweaked it as best I can. The application won't run under any of the compatibility modes in Win 7 so the XP mode looked like a worthwhile option. We'll just continue on as we are.
Thanks again.
g
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