Help with WinXP NOT SP2 Install!

[GoneFishing]

Hey all,

To summarize, I need to install WinXP via Bootcamp, but my product key will only work for NON SP2 Windows Discs.

I have been a Windows user and just swtich to Mac. However, I still need to run a lot of programs in Windows, just can afford to buy new Mac versions yet.

I have a WinXP product key for my old computer back in 2003. The key will only work with the original WinXP install CD I got. I have tried newer SP2 patched CDs and they will not recognize my key. I called Microsoft and they said that certain keys are used to certain CDs... maybe for security reasons. After talking to them, their only suggestions is to buy a new copy of WinXP (duh, how come I never thought about that... oh wait, it will cost me $300 for something I already have! )

So this is causing me trouble since Bootcamp's driver disc will not function properly with the OLD no Service Pack patched CD. I gave it a try anyways and somerthing went wrong and now I can not shut down Windows properly.

Can anyone out there sugguest a solution for me to work around this issue. I need to install WinXP via Bootcamp, but my product key will only work for NON SP2 Windows Discs.

Thanks.

 

[Kane.Elson]

You probably have an OEM key you are trying to use with a non OEM disk.

You have your old disk ? Even then it may not work because OEM disks are often locked to the manufacturer they came from such as dell, HP etc....

You can try installing sp2 afterwards, it's a couple of hundred meg download and you just run the installer. Worth a shot if you have plenty of bandwidth to use....

As MS said the only real solution is to buy a new key.

 

[Yoda47]

...
You can try installing sp2 afterwards, it's a couple of hundred meg download and you just run the installer. Worth a shot if you have plenty of bandwidth to use....
...

That won't work. Bootcamp needs SP2 to work.

 

[Mr MacBlue]

Have you thought about using Parallels or the new VMWare Fusion beta? I just installed it on my iMac and it works flawlessly.
http://www.vmware.com/products/beta/fusion/

I don't have a Win XP SP 2 Version either, but I installed SP 2 on my Fusion virtual machine.

I think it all depends on how much power you need for the applications you want to use. If you don't want to spend $300 (I wouldn't), I think it's worth a try.

 

[GoneFishing]

Have you thought about using Parallels or the new VMWare Fusion beta? I just installed it on my iMac and it works flawlessly.
http://www.vmware.com/products/beta/fusion/

I don't have a Win XP SP 2 Version either, but I installed SP 2 on my Fusion virtual machine.

I think it all depends on how much power you need for the applications you want to use. If you don't want to spend $300 (I wouldn't), I think it's worth a try.

I will need to run 3D apps like gaming, CAD, and fireworks. So I still need the full functionality of 3D hardware from the native WinXP boot.

 

[GoneFishing]

You probably have an OEM key you are trying to use with a non OEM disk.

You have your old disk ? Even then it may not work because OEM disks are often locked to the manufacturer they came from such as dell, HP etc....

You can try installing sp2 afterwards, it's a couple of hundred meg download and you just run the installer. Worth a shot if you have plenty of bandwidth to use....

As MS said the only real solution is to buy a new key.

Thanks Kane. This is what I am thinking. Get the SP2 package burned onto a CD. Then install my version of WinXP, then patch up with SP2, finally update all drivers with Bootcamp driver disc.

If this can work, the only question is where can I find the SP2 package?

 

[slooksterPSV]

I wonder if this is possible. Use the patched CD to start the install of Windows XP and when it has to reboot to start really installing Windows XP, put in the CD that doesn't have SP2 in. Try that.

 

[balamw]

I wonder if this is possible. Use the patched CD to start the install of Windows XP and when it has to reboot to start really installing Windows XP, put in the CD that doesn't have SP2 in. Try that.

Many have. It doesn't work.

No one mentioned the obvious. Including Microsoft.

You can't mix and match CDs and keys, but you can generally add SP2 to your CD before you install. It's a process called slipstreaming and Google will lead you to a number of sites that'll tell you how to do it. You'll need Windows though, but you could get the slipstreaming done using a trial version of Parallels.

On a side note, if you run into trouble with the slipstreaming process you're probably trying to use a customized OEM disc that came with a brand name PC and is not generally transferable according to the EULA, so you might just want to pick up a new copy of XP.

B