XP license on a VM

vogel

Hi, I need to install XP on a mac, I will probably do it with Vmware fusion but I can't get my head round the license thing.

I have an ancient dell computer lying somewhere which hasn't worked for years nor will it ever again. It's probably an OEM version, but if I can find the disk can I use that copy of XP as a vm.

If I can't, where can I get a legit retail copy of XP?

yoyo

vogel wrote: »

Hi, I need to install XP on a mac, I will probably do it with Vmware fusion but I can't get my head round the license thing.

I have an ancient dell computer lying somewhere which hasn't worked for years nor will it ever again. It's probably an OEM version, but if I can find the disk can I use that copy of XP as a vm.

If I can't, where can I get a legit retail copy of XP?

Microsoft no longer sell XP so in short you can't. Ebay licenses should be avoided, as many are MSDN ones which expire when the persons MSDN account does, not to mention Microsoft cancelling them when they find out they are being resold. Your best bet is to purchase Windows 7. It should run well enough in a virtual machine

Nick

vogel

Cheers Nick, XP was the preference unfortuneatly, I take it the OEM disk I have will be no use?

I'm half tempted of getting a retail disk of a trusted seller on Ebay if I can find one.

yoyo

vogel wrote: »

Cheers Nick, XP was the preference unfortuneatly, I take it the OEM disk I have will be no use?

I'm half tempted of getting a retail disk of a trusted seller on Ebay if I can find one.

Only buy if you get the CD and CD Key still attached to the packet, for e.g: this, trust me there is not many out there! Unfortunately XP needs a serial straight away, with Vista/7 you can install without needing a CD Key in trial mode. Your OEM disc may even be tied to a manufacturer, ie HP/Dell etc, and may not even work with your VM (OEM discs usually have drivers associated with that machine included, and won't work on different hardware!).
Does it really need to be XP? You could probably pick up Windows 7 pro cheaper, and use the Windows XP mode feature of it, XP is over 10 years old now, and Microsoft will stop supporting it soon (3 or 4 years). You can install Windows 7 in bootcamp I think/then use XP Mode using Virtualization support

Nick

Edit: This looks like its legit, but seller only has low feedback but he states its full with COA sticker & CD media

vogel

I never thought about XP mode in Win7 pro. I wanted it for my Gran, she had a laptop with XP on it which she used for emails but mostly solitaire I think. She had her house burgled a while back and her laptop was stolen. I gave her an old mac mini, monitor and other bits, but she couldn't figure it out. So I thought if I got XP on it, it would be more familiar to her. Understanding technology doesn't come easy to her unfortunately.

It's not turning into the most straightforward solution I had hoped for. So I might now look to see if I can pickup a secondhand laptop with XP on it for her.

Thanks for your help Nick, it's appreciated.

milltown

Boot camp is the way then.
You can set it to boot into Windows every time so she need never see OSX again. Waste of a Mac though.

ronkmonster

yoyo wrote: »

Unfortunately XP needs a serial straight away, with Vista/7 you can install without needing a CD Key in trial mode.

This changed with service pack 3. You can enter the key after install or use it as 30 day trial otherwise.

yoyo

I don't think newer versions of OSX work with XP on bootcamp, check this, typical Apple really :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Nick

Capt'n Midnight

you might be able to find a low spec second hand laptop which has XP for the price of a transferrable XP license