Windows XP Source

Hi, I am looking to do as clean of an install of Windows XP Home as I possibly can. My laptop, an Acer Aspire 5670, did not come with any discs and the restore disks do not work (wouldn't be clean anyway). I have already done one reinstall with the XP disk that came with a previous Dell desktop and it has worked ok, but there is a bunch of Dell garbage that comes with it. I used the product key that came with my laptop.

What I am looking for is a source of Windows XP Home that is completely free from anything that does not come from Microsoft and is necessary for the OS. I do not want to use any illegal copies and would like to be able to use the product key that came with my laptop (since I've already paid for XP with my laptop). I would prefer that it is free or extremely cheap. I will most likely be using nLite to add the necessary hotfixes, drivers, etc. and create an unattended cd.

Thank you everyone in advance.

 

How much are you willing to pay exactly?

To do what you're asking you need a brand new one, which doesn't come very cheap.

You can get XP home for around $85 on newegg, but that doesn't really fall under the very cheap category to me.

 

The key that came with your DELL is an XP OEM key and won't work with any other Windows XP disc. I think your only option is to install and then remove all the garbage.

 

Me either. Mabye I can manually delete the garbage files. Does anyone know of a guide/tutorial for doing this? I'll google it too.

 

Are you aware that the Dell OEM license does not allow you to use the Dell XP disk with any system other than the Dell computer you purchased? That means you can't transfer that OS to another computer, ever. If you purchase an OEM copy of XP from newegg or any other retailer, you are required to affix the COA to one computer and you can never use the OS on another computer. That's why OEM copies cost less than retail versions.

Just a little info for you.

 

You guys are correct. The key that came with the desktop does not work with my laptop, but I can use the key that came with my laptop and windows XP works just fine. (I have already reinstalled XP once with the Dell OEM CD and my laptop key with no problems).

What I would like to know is if there is any way to obtain Windows XP Home and only Windows XP Home that I can use with my laptop key for free or very cheap. And if that is not possible, a way to delete the extra junk that comes with the disk I currently have.

Thanks again.

 

No. If you buy XP Home, you get another key. Try pricewatch.com for the lowest prices you can find. You aren't going to get it cheaper than around $85.

If you want to remove the unwanted programs, you need to use Add/Remove programs. AFAIK you can't edit the disk and remove the programs so they don't install while Windows installs. You could try the Unattended MSFN website to see if anyone has removed the bloatware from a branded XP install disk.

 

My recomendation would be to install OEM disk, use add/remove programs to remove all the bloatware, use a registry cleaner, then make an image with ghost or another recovery program. This way at least in the future you wont have to do it again. GL