Dennis, you should be able to run the fresh install of XP on the new machine for 30 days before it will require activation. Of course, you can't run any of the windows updates until you activate it, but at least you can get the hardware set up the way you want it. (turn automatic updates OFF)

You'll get a nag screen asking if you want to activate Windows now (just say NO), but you should be able to use it. Don't activate it until you can get the new code issue worked out, and save all your data to the slave drive.

Yeah, you can't just toss the old drive in with XP already on it and let it set up the new hardware. The new setup will fail the hardware detection and deactivate Windblows, requiring you to call for a new code.

I was wondering when Microshaft's call centers would bog down with all the calls for new codes when people started acquiring new hardware. Maybe it's just the weekend, but from day one of the new activation scheme, I've always thought it would come to this. I'm glad I still have a copy of Win 2k Pro, so I can mix and match hardware as I please.

Linux is edging closer to mainstream use each day, and it will be interesting to see what happens when they get some real market presence.

Not to defend Micro$oft, but I think we've come to the point where the OS is going to be like just another piece of hardware, and we'll have to buy a new copy with each new machine overhaul. Let's face it; no one bats an eye paying over $200 for a graphics card, but they'll scream bloody murder at paying $100 for the OS.

Looks like they aren't bending over backwards to make "migration" to new hardware any easier. I've heard that the support people have been told to give callers the runaround, but they've also been told not to argue and give you a new code if you get a little "testy" with them. I don't know how true that is.

I'd have less antipathy for M$ if they just went ahead and bit the bullet, and dropped the price on their OS. I wouldn't think $50 would be an unreasonable price to charge for such an animal. They've been batting around the idea for years about "leasing" the OS on your box for a monthly fee. When that happens, I think I will make a wholehearted move to Linux.

 

Makes me so happy to have started learning to work Linux.

Also makes me so happy to have access to a copy of WinXP Corporate Edition. No WPA, just have to not download a certain update and I'm fine. After XP gets outdated...I doubt I'll be buying the latest MS OS unless its price is dropped. I'll probably make the complete switch to a solid Linux distro like Debian or Man or something.

Winblows has declined so much. 150 for the OS wouldn't be bad, except that you hav to spend like 60 bucks a year paying for a AV/Firewall to protect its sorry butt. Even then you have trouble! That said...I'm just careful and keep my data backed up and forego the whole Antivirus thing. Never have any trouble. Except when my cousin got on my computer once *shakes head*.

 

I was wondering when Microshaft's call centers would bog down with all the calls for new codes when people started acquiring new hardware. Maybe it's just the weekend

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you notice the time of my post #12.

I rang in to MS at 10:20 Pm Mountain DT.


So if I re-install my copy of XP Pro Fresh on the 40 gig HD to set up everything what happens of they say NO to an activation code.

That would mean yet another Install for a new copy of XP Pro wouldn't it ?

I have other concerns about the info I wasn't able to save to disk before the computer pooched.

I have heard about Norton Ghost but The Files on the 40 Gb HD were written with XP .
I want the 40 GIG to be the Master disk and hold the OS.

But, I don't think I can access to do a ghost image on a computer with 98 SE or even my Laptop with W2000.

I suppose I could try and locate a working computer with XP to copy all the files from the 40 GB HD to the 120 GB or to a CDRw disk for future copying once My XP Pro (re-activated or newely activated) is up running again.

Talk about a quandry.

I may be able to get another OEM copy for $100.00 but IMO I shouldn't have to.

http://www.buysell.com/root/search/2...s_CD_Roms.aspx

 

Dennis, it shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't activate it yet. You have 30 days to activate it before it goes into "cripple mode". Just install XP to the 40 gig (don't activate it at the prompt) and then put your original drive on a secondary channel and copy the files to the 40 gig drive. Once you're happy with the way it runs, go ahead and bite the bullet and call M$ for the new activation code.

I know people who have had to call, and they usually don't get too much hassle getting a new code. Computers crash and burn all the time, your case is not unusual in the least.

Maybe not Ghost, but you can just do a simple file transfer from drive to drive for all your crucial data. Of course, if your original drive is formatted in NTFS, Win98 won't read it, but W2K will.

 

That is a typical Microsoft HOOT. Their OS's can't read each others disk file formats, except in a backwards mode.
Dump Microsoft, load Linux OS on your new disk, install the old disk as secondary (slave), and Linux will read it just fine, no matter what MS format it is in.
MS's day of reckoning is comming, and it is not that far off.

 

I just got off the phone with MS and they said no problem getting re-activation.
That helps

BUT,
My new dilemna.

The 40 GB HD I have has 19 GB of data that I need and had no way of copying to the 120 GB HD before the puter crashed.

I know installing XP wipes the drive clean but I need those files.

Looks like I will be looking for someone with XP and the program to move/copy those needed files over

What a calamity ..obviously timing is everything.

While I have you here.

When attaching the AMD Processor to the MB the instructions for processor didn't mention a thermal paste or Thermal pad necessary for safe operation.
Since there wasn't a tube of this stuff I assumed that maybe this NEW AMD processor didn't require it . Please Note: This is the first time I have done this.

But even with researching it ,The instruction came up empty.

Firsthand experience now tells me they had a layer of Thermal paste on the heatsink already .
Wish they would have mentioned that in the instructions



So Know I have a heatsink to processor that has been seperated for about 8 seconds before re-attaching the two .

Is this okay to work or will it endanger the system.



It isn't like the two pieces had been operating for a few hours before seperating ...
it was freshly transferred paste.

Will the seperation of the two parts cause air bubbles and cause a void for proper cooling ?

Except for this

http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/cont...docs/26951.pdf

I can't find any info on this special situation.


Damn, I am making so many mistakes (typos) using this laptop.
I have to re-type things 3 times.

 

I am strongly considering it

 

The purpose of heatsink paste or a pad is to fill in the irregularities between the CPU and the heatsink. The new processors run very hot, so any advantage you can gain in heat transfer is helpful.

There are BIOS settings that can activate an alarm when the CPU temp reaches a certain point. A lot of motherboards can now be set to shut down in an overtemp situation.

I always prefer to use Arctic Silver paste for my stuff, since it seems to give the best heat transfer. I remove the thermal pad and use paste.

Just remove all the pad and get some paste (Radio Shack sells it, too). I hesitate to tell you to run it without a pad or paste, since I have no way of knowing how clean you got the heatsink and the top of the CPU.

If you use paste, just use a very small amount, just enough to spread a thin film on the top of the CPU. More is NOT better.

Dennis, there are a lot of Linux versions floating around. Mandriva (used to be Mandrake) seems to be the easiest for newbies, but someone here might have a better preference. To each his own. You can download a very recent .iso file for free with most Linux distros.

I agree, M$ may have a fight on its hands if it keeps messing with legitimate users. People don't want a hassle with stuff they bought and paid for. As for the pirates, I really don't care what they think. But, I'd like nothing better than to see greedy M$ take a little more heat for having a WPA that is not quite so user friendly.

 

Just remove all the pad and get some paste (Radio Shack sells it, too). I hesitate to tell you to run it without a pad or paste, since I have no way of knowing how clean you got the heatsink and the top of the CPU.

~~~~~~~~~~`

I didn't say I cleaned it .
I said I seperated them for 8 seconds (the time it took for me to realize they had already applied some to the bottom of the heat sink that I couldn't see.... before installing it the 1st time) then I placed back them back together again so the paste wouldn't accidently get wiped off.

 

Sorry, I wasn't sure what you meant when you said you separated them. Hope it all works out for ya.

 

Go on Ebay and buy an OEM version of XP2 or XP Media for less than $50 and install. I do it all the time when I buy lease return laptops and resell them to local businesses.

Haven't heard a squalk from MS.

 

Now you know how Melinda and Bill Gates can afford that 40,000 sq.ft house in Medina on Lake Washington.

 

If you only seperated them for ~8 seconds, it should have been fine. All Intel processors for sure come with the "pad" already applied to the top.

Mandriva is good. Dennis, do yourself a favor and before making the jump fully to Linux download a bootable CD. Linux versions often come in a version which can be booted from the CD drive. It basically turns the CD into a virtual read-only hard drive and makes the OS Ram-resident swapping programs into and out of the RAM as needed. Not the fastest running, but it will allow you to tinker and such at your own discretions. A great idea is to install Linux to a dedicated small hard disk, and letting it take over the MBR of that disk. That way you can just go in and unplug the windows disk (since youw on't be storing anything on it), and plug in the third disk and boot your linux distro to play with. it's best to run both...but be careful because I seriously screwed myself up getting the boot sequences and such right with LILO or GRUB working with setting up my Windows partitions as well.

 

In order to get the data off your Old hard drive just install xp on thge new one and set everything up. Then get a USB hard drive enclosure. They have them at Compusa for $30.00 US. Put your old drive in the enclosure then you can read it and copy the data to the new one. Works great and you can then use it as an external backup drive.

 

Well, I am up and running.

Aside from a couple of technical things I had to wait for answers on, the computer runs great.
Now I just have to get re-activated with MS and I can get all the necessary updates/patches and then maybe the browsing will speed up.

It seems MS can slow down your system if it thinks it's a Pirate

EDIT:
10:55.
I just got back from re-activating.
That was a breeze, although it may have something to do with calling on the 28th and talking with someone first

I did through the 2nd choice on the activation list that XP provides.