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hannah ([personal profile] hannah) wrote2010-02-11 02:15 pm
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Computer-based news and musing.

Between public libraries, the campus libraries, the eighth-floor lab, and my landlady letting me use her computer on Sunday night, I'm fairly well set on Internet access. At present, my Laptop is a word processing/media box - it has Wordpad and the capacity to play CDs and MP3s, and also recognizes USB drives, which means I can work on an essay due next week with minimal complications.

In terms of replacements, I'm still looking. According to this information, I can get Microsoft Office at no charge, but I'm unclear as to whether or not it means I can also get Windows XP or simply some sort of upgrade. I still have the XP disc that came with my original computer, which got my computer up and running, so that might mean I don't need to purchase an OS if I've got the mode I want to begin with. If this is the case, it opens up a whole realm of possibilities. And the implosion was traumatic enough I'd rather not get used to something else.

I'm going to miss being Internet-social for the next few weeks. Don't get into trouble without me: I'd hate to hear I missed out.
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[identity profile] nachtschade.livejournal.com 2010-02-11 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, the horror of computer problems. Good luck sorting things out!

[identity profile] hannahrorlove.livejournal.com 2010-02-12 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
It's difficult because no one is using language I understand, but I'm making an effort. Thank you.

[identity profile] christirose.livejournal.com 2010-02-11 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Discs that come with computers are almost always OEM licenses which means they’re good for only one computer.

As for XP, I’ve tried, it phones home to Redmond with your computer specs so it has to be unregistered or the hardware has to match. The installer also checks to see that the HD is wiped clean and if it isn’t, it’ll wipe it clean for you.

Bottom line, if you get a new computer, check that your XP discs aren’t OEM and if they are, do try to get those XP installer discs when you get those Office discs.

[identity profile] hannahrorlove.livejournal.com 2010-02-12 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Given that I'd be installing XP as the base operating system, I have a hard time understanding why wiping the HD would be a bad thing, which is what you're making it out to be.

I don't know what OEM means. How would I be able to tell if that's what the disc is?
Edited 2010-02-12 17:19 (UTC)

[identity profile] christirose.livejournal.com 2010-02-12 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
OEM = original equipment manufacturer. It will either say so on the disk or if not, then any presence of a manufacturer logo (like a Dell logo) would also mean it’s an OEM license. That means, the serial/license number is tied to the machine that came with the discs.

You could try to install it onto your new computer and activate it and it might work but, once you get on the internet, it’ll phone home to see if the hardware matches the serial/license number and if they don’t match, the system de-activates.

On the new computer, if there are any pre-installed apps or hardware drivers that you want to save, the installer would just erase the hard drive making you lose anything you wanted to keep. Which might not be a problem as long as you keep the new computer’s installer discs.

[identity profile] hannahrorlove.livejournal.com 2010-02-12 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
What if I install XP and then get it upgraded at the IT department?

[identity profile] christirose.livejournal.com 2010-02-13 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
Two issues here:

1) The oem installer is different from home/business installers in that it will wipe out your HD. Which might or might not be a good thing depending on what you want. I like clean installs btw and will always opt for it. But I know most people find it a hassle.

2) The license/serial/registration/activation (whatever they call it) number for Windows itself is tied to hardware. If all you want to do is wipe out your HD and put XP onto it, you don’t need new discs and all you need is new serial number before you start the install process. The IT dept might be able to help you there since they usually deal with bulk/group serial numbers.

If there are hardware drivers which Windows needs, your IT dept might know how to install them, as long as you have the installer discs. But since you’re downgrading from Vista or 7 to XP, you’d want them to double-check that the drivers work on XP.

In a nutshell, before you perform brain surgery on your new laptop, you want to ask IT if 1) they can give you a group license number for XP and 2) if the new laptop needs drivers and 3) if those drivers work on XP. They should be able to tell you what drivers they might be able to find and give you and idea of what will/won’t work in XP.

Trackpad should work without drivers, though scrolling areas tend to need drivers. Webcam prolly won’t work without drivers. USB should work without. Card readers, I’m not sure. But ask IT. You can install XP yourself once you get a new license number, but ask IT to help you with the driver issues.
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