win2000 to XP

I am finally making the leap from win2000 to xp. I have hesitated as long as
possible because of everything I've heard about registration problems
(non-authentic version, need to buy new copy of xp, etc). Plus I just
haven't needed to up until now.

I have a couple complications:
1) I don't think I have a legal copy of win2000 to begin with, and
2) I plan to upgrade my computer next year with a new motherboard/cpu and
probably new drives.

What I need to know is, if I buy a version of xp now, will I have to buy
another one next year when I upgrade? Does this apply to OEM and retail
versions both? What about XP Home only working with win98 and winME? Also,
should I get the full version instead of the upgrade?
Any help would be appreciated.

We're all about Windows Updates here, not Windows upgrades. Try posting in
WinXP General newsgroup instead, please.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

BxZ wrote:
> I am finally making the leap from win2000 to xp. I have hesitated as long
> as
> possible because of everything I've heard about registration problems
> (non-authentic version, need to buy new copy of xp, etc). Plus I just
> haven't needed to up until now.
>
> I have a couple complications:
> 1) I don't think I have a legal copy of win2000 to begin with, and
> 2) I plan to upgrade my computer next year with a new motherboard/cpu and
> probably new drives.
>
> What I need to know is, if I buy a version of xp now, will I have to buy
> another one next year when I upgrade? Does this apply to OEM and retail
> versions both? What about XP Home only working with win98 and winME? Also,
> should I get the full version instead of the upgrade?
> Any help would be appreciated.

The decision has already been made for you
http://blogs.technet.com/lifecycle/a...june-30th.aspx

You may have to look at Vista perhaps a computer with vista already
installed rather than trying the upgrade approach.

BTW - wrong newsgroup, this is Windows Updates not Upgrades.

--

--------------------------------
TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008
Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org


"BxZ" wrote:

> I am finally making the leap from win2000 to xp. I have hesitated as long as
> possible because of everything I've heard about registration problems
> (non-authentic version, need to buy new copy of xp, etc). Plus I just
> haven't needed to up until now.
>
> I have a couple complications:
> 1) I don't think I have a legal copy of win2000 to begin with, and
> 2) I plan to upgrade my computer next year with a new motherboard/cpu and
> probably new drives.
>
> What I need to know is, if I buy a version of xp now, will I have to buy
> another one next year when I upgrade? Does this apply to OEM and retail
> versions both? What about XP Home only working with win98 and winME? Also,
> should I get the full version instead of the upgrade?
> Any help would be appreciated.

Be kind Robear, he/she is a little behind the times.
K-

--------------------------------
TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008
Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> We're all about Windows Updates here, not Windows upgrades. Try posting in
> WinXP General newsgroup instead, please.
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>
> BxZ wrote:
> > I am finally making the leap from win2000 to xp. I have hesitated as long
> > as
> > possible because of everything I've heard about registration problems
> > (non-authentic version, need to buy new copy of xp, etc). Plus I just
> > haven't needed to up until now.
> >
> > I have a couple complications:
> > 1) I don't think I have a legal copy of win2000 to begin with, and
> > 2) I plan to upgrade my computer next year with a new motherboard/cpu and
> > probably new drives.
> >
> > What I need to know is, if I buy a version of xp now, will I have to buy
> > another one next year when I upgrade? Does this apply to OEM and retail
> > versions both? What about XP Home only working with win98 and winME? Also,
> > should I get the full version instead of the upgrade?
> > Any help would be appreciated.
>
>

Hi there,

Best is to go fow Win XP it will give you a much better performance than
Vista.

Best regards,
Michel Denie


"VanguardLH" <> wrote in message
news:. ..
> "BxZ" wrote in
> <news:59715BB8-6EE5-4568-809E->:
>
>> I am finally making the leap from win2000 to xp. I have hesitated as long
>> as
>> possible because of everything I've heard about registration problems
>> (non-authentic version, need to buy new copy of xp, etc). Plus I just
>> haven't needed to up until now.
>>
>> I have a couple complications:
>> 1) I don't think I have a legal copy of win2000 to begin with, and
>
> Then you cannot upgrade. An upgrade version requires a legitimate prior
> version. You will have to buy a full retail version of Windows XP. You
> could buy an OEM version but OEM versions don't do upgrades. OEM
> versions wipe the partition and lay down a fresh copy of the OS (which I
> always do anyway so any corruption and pollution from the old OS
> instance doesn't screw up the new install).
>
>> 2) I plan to upgrade my computer next year with a new motherboard/cpu and
>> probably new drives.
>
> Since you are buying hardware, buy the OEM version of Windows XP along
> with it. The OEM version requires that you buy qualifying hardware.

> You could buy an OEM version but OEM versions don't do upgrades.

Do you mean update? Or do you mean upgrading your hardware? It would make
sense for me to buy an OEM since I built the computer myself, but not if I
have to buy a new copy every time I upgrade my hardware. Who would buy
that??!


> > 2) I plan to upgrade my computer next year with a new motherboard/cpu and
> > probably new drives.
>
> Since you are buying hardware, buy the OEM version of Windows XP along
> with it. The OEM version requires that you buy qualifying hardware.

I'm not sure I understand about qualifying hardware. The problem is that I
need XP now, but not the new hardware and I don't want to have to buy two
separate copies of Windows if I can help it.

I appreciate everyone's help. I do realize now that this forum is for Vista
only. Sorry. And it had not occured to me to differentiate between update and
upgrade. For me, an update WOULD be an upgrade. Thanks.

VanguardLH wrote:

> Then buy the retail version of Windows XP now. You cannot buy an
> upgrade version of Windows XP because you have nothing from which to
> upgrade. You will need a full retail version, NOT an upgrade retail
> version.

I'd check the prices first. If you can buy OEM, you may find it's cheaper to
buy two OEM copies than one retail copy.

Harry.