OS purchase question

[beauness]

Hye folks, I've recently bought some extra OS's on E-Bay. Got a great deal but, Win xp home disc states it is only for a Dell machine, true?? The win 98 I purchased has Compaq on the package but, nothing on the disc about Compaq. I'm thinking that I shouldn't have to much problem with the win 98, but I don't have a Dell Dudes!, for the xp home. Is there a way around this or just up grade someone elses Dell machine. Let me know if any one has been able to fix this or not, or should I even worry? Thanks a bundle, Beauness

[Mark Miller]

It sounds like you bought a Dell oem disc. Usually that means it's setup for only Dell or HP or whoevers configuration. How many discs came with it? the reason I ask is that HP has 7 discs that come for a full recovery. I think I would be careful or if possible ask some questions from the person you bought it from on E-bay.
Mark

[beauness]

Hi Mark, the os came with only one disc marked for reinstall on Dell only! I think I'll just have to find someone who wants the upgrade. I should have read the info on E-Bay alittle closer before jumping on it. Buyer beware! Thanks for the reply, Beauness
Ps. If anyone wants it let me know!

[Rick]

On many of the OEM branded disks will only work on systems that company built
Compaq for example used the hard drive ID number to enable the recover disk to install.
Dell uses the Bios marker

My old compaq disk for win95 will recover the O/S on a half dozen models .
But Only if it can find the special marker on the hard drive
Each model has a distinct number written to the hard drive

You may have just purchased a bunch of worthless disks

[Budfred]

I think you need to find someone with a Dell. For the Compaq labeled disk, you will just need to try it. It may be proprietary. The good news is that there are a lot of people out there with both. I hope you got a REALLY good price for the extra hassle....

[Paul Komski]

http://help.lockergnome.com/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=7844
Dell OEM copies of XP will NOT install on non-Dell systems (they won't even install on some Dell systems)

[beauness]

thanks guys! I did get a good deal1 I'll just find a "dude" and slide the xp out the door. Someone will want it. The win 98 loaded just fine in my wifes machine, and runs like it should on a custom mach.
I hear what your're saying Paul, they can be stubborn(for lack of a better term)! Thanks again Beauness

[Paul Komski]

Now, for example, when making an unattended installation CD from a retail one, the contents are first copied to HDD, modified and then burned to the new CD.

If one could find what Dell had modified to only work with their own newer pcs (by comparing the installation files with a normal CD) it could be possible that these could be edited out and a functional new installation CD created. As to what the licensing situation would be here is another baby altogether.

Maybe its all been done somewhere already?

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Realise it's only the OS that won't install. Other programs on it can be by using Explorer and finding the installer packages. So if there's an A/V or burner soft. etc. that you want, you can recover your losses to some degree. But again, the complications rest here:
As to what the licensing situation would be here is another baby altogether.
The seller has probably made copies and is selling something just for some cash and therefore the sale is an illegal transfer and it would not be a 'proper' thing for the purchaser to use any of the products on the disks.

I've told you, now the ball is in your court...