Windows on macbook

[jjj23]

I bought a Macbook Air with the intention of running XP or Vista on it occaisonally. I need to use the IE and would use Bootcamp to load Windows.

I am totally new at this and I've done some research on this but can't find an answer for this. Before I go out and spend a couple hundred on new software, I want to find out if I can use Vista that came pre-loaded with my HP laptop. I don't have the CDs but they are saved on my laptop's hard drive and I can burn a copy of it. Will this work?

Also does a bootleg copy of XP SP2 work with Bootcamp?

Are there any other options besides buying XP/Vista new or used?

EDIT: I have a Macbook Air, which does not have an optical drive, would this be a problem in installing XP? I am assuming I can use RemoteDisk to install XP, right?

 

[TEG]

If you are in College, and studying Engineering or Computer Science, you're school likely has a system with M$ for you to use Windows for free. Legally, you cannot use your HP Disc.

Also, you don't need Windows to run IE on a Mac (which I would use through Parallels or VMWare Fusion so you don't have to restart each time), you can use http://www.kronenberg.org/ies4osx/

TEG

 

[Apple Ink]

No... you cant because of two reasons....

1. It would be piracy... your HP only came with a single user license copy.
2. Most Vendors (I guess HP included) lock their OEM install disks so that they only run on specific hardware!

What do you mean by 'bootleg'?

 

[jjj23]

If you are in College, and studying Engineering or Computer Science, you're school likely has a system with M$ for you to use Windows for free. Legally, you cannot use your HP Disc.

Also, you don't need Windows to run IE on a Mac (which I would use through Parallels or VMWare Fusion so you don't have to restart each time), you can use http://www.kronenberg.org/ies4osx/

TEG

IE on a Mac won't work for me, because I also need to use a program along with IE which only works on Windows.

 

[jjj23]

No... you cant because of two reasons....

1. It would be piracy... your HP only came with a single user license copy.
2. Most Vendors (I guess HP included) lock their OEM install disks so that they only run on specific hardware!

What do you mean by 'bootleg'?

Like a burned copy of XP.

 

[Apple Ink]

Why dont you join in here:

What does it mean by genuine copy of windows?

 

[jjj23]

Why dont you join in here:

What does it mean by genuine copy of windows?

Thanks Apple Ink, that answered my question.

 

[nintendude]

EDIT: I have a Macbook Air, which does not have an optical drive, would this be a problem in installing XP? I am assuming I can use RemoteDisk to install XP, right?

You can't install XP through Remote Disk