Quick Computer Question?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Folks,

Okay, helping friend with their 2.5 y/o DELL E310 with a nice SATA 80GB hard drive that took a CRAP! SO...I'm putting in a nice 500GB SATA unit that I got for ~$80.00.

I've got the Dell reinstallation discs, and have formatted and just now finishing installing their Windows XP Home SP2 version. I've still got to install the drivers/resource disc and other software.

My question is that NOW there's Windows SP3 out. I've got a copy of it already saved. DO I need to let Windows UPdate go thru all of the previous Automatic Updates since SP2 get found/installed FIRST, or can I just install SP3, hoping that it incorporates many of the security fixes and such that were done prior to bringing SP3 to the masses?!

Thanks in advance!
T.C.

[DiverRay]

T.C.
If they had the SP2 as part of the set, just install SP3. You WILL need more upgrades, but you can do it from the Microsoft site AFTER you have returned the computer. The owners should be able to run an "automatic" program from the site that will tell them what they need. Just load the "security" parts of the new upgrades.

[CatatonicBug]

There are a few versions of SP3. You have to be sure you have the right version to install on their PC. Really though, with high-speed, it's not that bad to just let it run for a while and let it install itself. I just did that on 12 PCs here at work this morning. They had been turned off for quite a while and a few of them needed over 50 updates, including SP3. Took 2.5 hours for all 12 PCs.

[ross]

?!?!?!....

DUDE, YOU GOT A DELL!!....HAHAHAHAHA......talk 2 ya later...ross

[boyat68]

TC:

My understanding is that SP3 has an error that makes AMD processor machines die. It also has been documented in some Dell machines and some HP machines. See: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Desktops-an...lems-Continue/

I would not install SP3 untill it was a 100% pure product. I have a couple of AMD machines and one Intel machine (home built) that work pretty good without SP3. Since it is another's machine, I would let them decide to install SP3.

[Varnae]

TC:

My understanding is that SP3 has an error that makes AMD processor machines die.

I don't believe that the thing you're talking about is included in SP3. It's a Hardware update that can be downloaded from the microsoft update site. I could be wrong but I've never seen it included in an update.

Now as to T.C.'s question. My advice would be go ahead and install the SP3 and then once you've done that you can connect to the microsoft update site and get the remainder of the updates. SP3 will save you from having to download about 67 additional updates I believe so definitely install SP3 first.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Folks,

Thanks for the advice. I've installed SP3 on my home system which is running an AMD Athlon XP 2100 CPU, doing just fine!

I did install the SP3 first, and then just a handful of updates that camen thru the Automatic update process. It works great, much faster than it used to be according to the owner, and fortunately, they had used a ZEN drive a while back which has synchronized ALL of their photos and MP3s, so they didn't really loose much in the way of files!!
Happy Computing!
T.C.

[TopCatGr58]

Question about RE-activation of WinXP Home SP2?

Hey Folks, I'm back!

Okay, my old system was one I built in 2002, ran Win98SE on it for 4 years, then in 12/05 BOUGHT and installed the Upgrade version of XP Home SP2 on it, upgraded the memory and CPU, but never had to re-activate it!

Well, that computer is a bit behind in it's abilities and speed compared to what I want to be able to do, so for my B'day I ordered the stuff to create a new machine: Intel Due Core 3.0Ghz Wolfdale CPU, 4 GB PC-8500 1066Mhz Ram, GB MB, PCIe Vid Card, Vid Capture Card, new GREEN case with LEDs and such! I'll be using a couple of IDE drives even though can handle SATA because I already have them...saving $$...not that big a hit on performance.

Anyways, I've been doing research on the NET regarding the Re-activation of the Windows. I'll be doing a clean install of the UPGRADE version on the new machine...already tested it with a bootable CD drive, just have to show the Original Win98 OS disc...which I also had bought in 2000, and it goes thru the install process just fine. I read on a PCMag site and such that because it's the full RETAIL version of WinXP Home, and that MS allowed a time period of 120 days between attempts to re-activate..that even with a totally different machine, the re-activation process should proceed via the internet just fine? I've never had to re-activate this version ever since I installed it, good harddrive and Antivirus/spyware protection!

Does this sound right, that MS will just generate a NEW ID# when I provide a proper KEY for the new hardware setup and send that back to the NEW computer to complete the activation process WITHOUT me having to call MS for an over the phone activation!?!?

I will OFC remove the version of the OS that is on my old retiring machine!
T.C.

[DiverRay]

You should have NO PROBLEMS with it. I've done the same with XP Pro on one or two machines, and even when it was a short span (bad HD) one phone call fixed it.

[rpgoerlich]

Haven't had to do my XP-pro yet.
But did have to do my sons Windows Media after changing out the MB on the Emachine that crapped out. Reloaded it on the same hard drive. Had to get them on the phone and they generated a new code for it, and registered it while I was on the phone with them. 30mins tops.

[cywelchjr]

Hey Folks, I'm back!
Does this sound right, that MS will just generate a NEW ID# when I provide a proper KEY for the new hardware setup and send that back to the NEW computer to complete the activation process WITHOUT me having to call MS for an over the phone activation!?!?

I will OFC remove the version of the OS that is on my old retiring machine!
T.C.

Before I retired XP and moved to Vista (and yes it works very well for me, and I understand it doesn't work for everyone), I regularly reinstalled XP every 6 months or so to maintain performance and stability, and never had a problem with activation.

I'm a programmer by trade, and am constantly build packages and installing and uninstalling software packages which can really cause problems over time. Never had to call MS either, just did the install and then told it to activate over the internet, so you should have no problem with it at all.

[bobber]

all i want to learn,is how too get some photos on here

[cywelchjr]

all i want to learn,is how too get some photos on here

Just get yourself an account at photobucket.com and upload your pictures to there. Then in your responce paste in the code from the "image code" field for the picture you want to post. It should be there. Assuming I did it right a picture of my XS11g should be below.

[TopCatGr58]

Update, successful!

Well, just wanted to provide an update in case others want to do what I did!?

I put the 'puter together, and installed the RETAIL version of XP Home SP2, and after I installed the motherboard chipset drivers so that I could use the NIC and such, I then proceeded to do the activation process. At first it said that I had successfully done the Activation process. Then after the next reboot, it popped up saying that the computer had changed hardware significantly and that I needed to RE-Activate Windows! It said that the KEY...that fun 30 character alpha-numeric code you type in when you first install WIndows had been used more than it was permitted!

So....the re-activation screen came up, it generated the 50 character computer ID #, and then told me to call MS's toll free #. I called it, spoke with just the automated system, stated that there was a major repair done, like hard drive, motherboard change, and then also stated that the OS had ONLY been installed on 1(ONE) computer, it asked that question a couple of times.

I then had to read off the entire 50 digit ID #, in groups of 5, into the voice recognition system, after it received all 50 #'s, it said OKAY, and here's your new KEY, another 30 digit ALL NUMBER code that I punched into it, and then it completed the Re-Activation process.

I still have the OTHER OLD computer and OS, it will NOT be used on the "NET" anymore, so I'm not worried about SECURITY UPDATES, just as a simple slave unit at work for doing video capturing of surgeries, so I don't have to lug the whole computer back and forth to and from work. I'll just transfer the files to a portable hard drive, and then load them on my NEW Super system for much faster video processing and burning to DVD's etc.!

SO...this is what I had to do to be able to RE-Use my PAID FOR version of WIndows XP HOME SP2...upgrade version and have it be able to meet the Windows Genuine Advantage tests later to receive full Windows UPdate services and such! Hope this helps others?
T.C.