XP HE CD for OEM pre-install 2

[dleigh]

I'm an XP newbie. Just got it because I got a new laptop from HP with it pre-installed. I can't fathom being able to live long-term with an MS OS withOUT having a CD of the OS for periodic re-installs on top of the current system to fix minor things.

Of course, HP only gives me "re-start-from-scratch" recovery CDs and won't give me an XP CD.

So my questions are:

1. Do I need an XP CD (I've already been asked for one once by a software install) like I did with Win98 or can I get by without one?

2. Will Microsoft give me one as the legitimate registered user of this OS (I'll certainly pay postage)?

3. If I go and buy a copy off the shelf, can I install it on another machine but still use it for "fix reinstalls" on my laptop (i.e. I would own 1 CD but legitimately have 2 licenses and be able to use the 1 CD for those 2 licenses)?

4. Is this everywhere or just certain OEMs?!

Thanks for your help!
David

 

[jexster]

Ok from what i get what your saying you want to use xp on two computers well technically you would have to buy two disk for you to actually have the rights to use both.And as far as them sending you the actuall xp disk they wont becuse your version was put out threw hp and thats all you get.And as for all computer manafactures putting out there own little version of xp you would be right i got one when i got my dell and it cannot be installed on a second computer.

 

[dleigh]

That helps a bit.

I'm not trying to use one license of XP on 2 computers, I would have 2 licenses if I had the CD also...but since one license didn't come with the CD, I'd like to use the 1 CD for the occasional fix to 2 licenses.

Thanks,
David

 

[linney]

You might like to have a look around this HP site and see what other HP users are saying about this problem. You will find a link to Recovery Disks at the bottom of any page of the forum.

http://bizforums.itrc.hp.com/cm/CategoryHome/1,,405!1!2,00.html

 

[dleigh]

Thanks for the tip. Looks like a potentially great site for the kind of knowledge I'll be needing with my notebook.
Thanks,
David

 

[Snickle]

I'm working on an HP desktop purchased Oct 2001. WinXP on it has been extensively customized by HP and I don't think the retail disk will work with the HP hardware directly.

 

[dleigh]

Oh boy...gotta love that! B-(

 

[Sigmundca]

Ya that's for sure!!
DoH!!

 

[Sigmundca]

Ya that's for sure!!
DoH!!