Corazon and Theog,
I don't have a CD or a key for ME because it came pre-installed on my old PC. The XP upgrade CD package has a key, but the install procedure won't accept it. It says it's not a valid key and so I can't get past that point in the installation.
If you want to try this old XP HDD on different computers, then it makes sense to put in a USB case. If you wish to use it in only one system (a desktop!) then it is better to install it inside the desktop.
One problem with the old XP HDD on new computer is that the motherboard and the devices connected to it are different. The XP may fail to boot. You may try to boot it in Safe mode and let it install the generic microsoft drivers first and then install manually other non generic device drivers. You may download the XP drivers from the manufacturer's website.
If the XP HDD works on your new computer, you can get some help from this forum tutorials or internet to add an entry in the Windows 7's boot manager so that the system becomes a dual boot system.
Did you try to mount the XP HDD in the Virtual PC as the First HDD (without a virtual HDD) and try to boot? It may work! Then you don't have to install XP.
Rraod,
I haven't removed the old HDD from the old PC yet. And I suppose I will still need to get a USB enclosure for it, and then plug it into the new Windows 7 PC, since that is where the virtual machine is located.
TheoG, as I mentioned before I don't have any ME CD's because that was pre-installed on the old PC. The only CD's I have are the ones that I used to install the XP as an upgrade from ME on that same old PC. That's why I don't have a product key for ME, but only for the XP upgrade, and the XP install on the virtual machine won't accept that product key. But I don't even know if I will be able to print from the software I need, because it will ONLY print to a parallel printer, and my new system doesn't even have a parallel port to connect to. Looks like I may have to completely rewrite the software in a Windows7 compatible format.
TheoG, I don't have any ME CD(s). It came pre-installed on the old CD. I did buy the XP upgrade, so I have those CDs, but the product key is invalid on the XP install on the VM.
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