G’day everyone,

I picked up and old computer and use some parts from an old computer we had, including the hard drive, to complete it. I thought I’d give a shot at installing the OEM version of Windows XP from my old computer from the recovery disk I made. I knew it would have issues with the new motherboard but I thought it would fail at the activation and then I’d call MS and tell them I upgraded the computer or some such thing. However it actually blue-screens at various point before it gets anywhere near that.

I’m willing to buy XP for $50 – http://windows-oem.com/windows-xp/professional-service-pack-3 – but it will be a waste if it doesn’t work because of a more fundamental issue with the computer. Is there any way to test that the computer itself is fine? I can take the hard drive out and plug it into another computer to change things on it if need be.

• Is there any way to test that the computer itself is fine?

Run a linux live cd?

Wow, I didn’t even know that existed. Cheers. Any recommendations for which one?

• Wow, I didn’t even know that existed. Cheers. Any recommendations for which one?

My preference is ubuntu and I think it is fairly simple though there are some that are more windows like. However if it is just to test run a PC then any old one would probably do…

Though, having said that, lately ubuntu exceeds CD size and needs a DVD. I am guessing your old motherboard can’t boot from USB?

furious said:

Though, having said that, lately ubuntu exceeds CD size and needs a DVD. I am guessing your old motherboard can’t boot from USB?

We’ll find out soon, and if not I’ll burn it to a DVD.

I guess it’s a bit late now, but I’d recommend Puppy Linux – the Puppy .iso files are much smaller than the Ubuntu ones. And Puppy is generally very good at working on older hardware.

I suggest Slacko Puppy 5.6 or the Ubuntu compatible Lucid Puppy 5.2.8

Puppy download page

Direct link to download Slacko Puppy 5.6 163.9MB

puppy Linux home page

• I guess it’s a bit late now, but I’d recommend Puppy Linux

After thinking on it, puppy did occur to me because it runs on low “everything” but last time I tried it I had problems getting the internet connection to work. I have never had such problems with a ubuntu live cd…

Twoy said:

I picked up and old computer and use some parts from an old computer we had, including the hard drive, to complete it. I thought I’d give a shot at installing the OEM version of Windows XP from my old computer from the recovery disk I made. I knew it would have issues with the new motherboard but I thought it would fail at the activation and then I’d call MS and tell them I upgraded the computer or some such thing. However it actually blue-screens at various point before it gets anywhere near that.

Yeah, Windows XP doesn’t like to be moved to a computer with different hardware. The installation process chooses the drivers that it needs to run the hardware that’s present when you do the installation, and so if the hardware changes without warning then Windows freaks out at boot time.

furious said:

• I guess it’s a bit late now, but I’d recommend Puppy Linux

After thinking on it, puppy did occur to me because it runs on low “everything” but last time I tried it I had problems getting the internet connection to work. I have never had such problems with a ubuntu live cd…

I generally carry a couple of versions of Puppy with me on a USB. Occasionally I’ve had connection problems, but pretty rarely, and if my favourite Puppy doesn’t work, I generally can connect with another. Mostly it’s all automatic, but sometimes it just requires using the Connection Wizard, although I suppose that might be a little daunting for a complete Linux newb.

Thanks all.

It was a touch late PM, I already used this: http://crunchbang.org/download/

Which let me diagnose a memory issue, put in new RAM and it’s working great. Not even going to bother with Windows. The kids can use it like that. :)

It runs a bit slow from the DVD but I’ll install it properly later on.

PM 2Ring said:

Yeah, Windows XP doesn’t like to be moved to a computer with different hardware. The installation process chooses the drivers that it needs to run the hardware that’s present when you do the installation, and so if the hardware changes without warning then Windows freaks out at boot time.

Drivers aren’t the issue, it is Windows being licensed to a particular computer that is the issue. Change the motherboard (even the same model number) and it will refuse to work.

• I already used this: http://crunchbang.org/download/

I know there are heaps of distros out there, but I haven’t heard of that one, what made you chosse it?

furious said:

• I already used this: http://crunchbang.org/download/

I know there are heaps of distros out there, but I haven’t heard of that one, what made you chosse it?

A very intricate and thorough process of typing “linux live DVD” into Google and clicking on the first thing I saw. :)

Carmen_Sandiego said:

PM 2Ring said:

Yeah, Windows XP doesn’t like to be moved to a computer with different hardware. The installation process chooses the drivers that it needs to run the hardware that’s present when you do the installation, and so if the hardware changes without warning then Windows freaks out at boot time.

Drivers aren’t the issue, it is Windows being licensed to a particular computer that is the issue. Change the motherboard (even the same model number) and it will refuse to work.

That’s what I thought until recently, but a few weeks ago someone claimed that it’s possible to move a WinXP HD to an identical machine. But I’ve never tried it myself. And the STOP error codes that come up when you move WinXP to a non-identical machine indicate that it’s a driver issue, but I guess they aren’t always 100% truthful…

• A very intricate and thorough process of typing “linux live DVD” into Google and clicking on the first thing I saw

Goodo… my original process was similar, except it was whatever happened to be on the cover cd of that month’s computer magazine…