As long as it was a retail boxed version of XP, and not an OEM version, you are allowed to transfer it to a different computer provided XP is no longer installed on the original computer.

I'd still suggest buying the computer with XP already installed unless you enjoy fussing with drivers for newer hardware. There's also the problem with AHCI drivers (Intel Matrix Storage Drivers) that you'll probably have to contend with. They have to either be loaded prior to the installation or slipstreamed into an existing XP image and burned to a new install disc. Otherwise you boot to a black screen after installation because the system can't find the hard drive. Alternatively you could disable AHCI functionality in the BIOS and do without the advanced AHCI features. And in some cases you can copy the AHCI drivers to the hard drive before the install.

Do a Google search for
XP AHCI drivers
to find out more about what I'm talking about.

Thanks, Jen - will do - here's final, final, final, superfinal specs:
- I've selected (Value Series, L panel, "Customize Button"):

CPU - 2.8 GHz Dual Core E6300;
Heatsink/fan - took default;
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA 73PVM;
Memory - default - 2 GB;
Hard drive - default - 500GB 7200 RPM;
CD / DVD / CDRW - default;
Video card - 1 GB GeForce GTS 250;
Operating System - MS Windows XP Home_sp3;
Case - Apevia Silver X Dreamer;
Power Supply - 500 Watt Antec Earthwatts EA500;
Networking - default;
Wireless networking - Wireless B/G PCI Adapter;
Sound card - default;
Speakers - none - will use these from current Dell Dimension 8200;
Floppy drive - 1.44 Floppy Drive (I never know when I might order a DOS game from Amazon.com/Ebay that comes on a 3.5" floppy disks);
Keyboard/mouse/card reader/accessories 1 & 2 - none;
Will use the keyboard, mouse, and CRT monitor from the current Dell Dimension.

Warranty - default;

price is now $731.

I'm concerned that if I wait until the first week in Jan. to order this PC, the Windows XP option might no longer be available - this is why I want to get this computer this month?

Thanks for the answer, Jenny. I've heard several different opinions about the differences between retail and OEM versions as far as moving from one computer to another, so I wasn't sure. Someone told me I should never have been able to install that old HP hard drive to my new MOBO because the XP OS was OEM. Go figure.

A possibility would be to ask the folks at ecollege PC if they send the driver CD for the motherboard with the drivers Jenny mentions. I just installed the Gigabyte drivers on my XP drive and after some serious tweaking in the BIOS, it now boots up perfectly.

As you've been told many times before, there will be no problem with getting XP after January 1 unless ecollege stops offering it. The OS will be supported for a few years yet. If you are concerned about it, contact ecollege and ask.

Contacted EcollegePC last night and got this email from them:



So it looks like I have absolutely nothing to worry about.

K515 you could also get an external floppy drive, my three year old one came with a floppy that I didn't use much at all and it is now defunct. Tech told me if you don't use them, they don't last, go figure. A lot does depend on your climate though, ours is very damp.

You should definitely have a cd for your motherboard, everytime I have had to reload Windows it is the first thing I have to do. Mine has the drivers for network, audio and something else that is necessary for the computer to work properly. If I don't do it I can't even get it back online, has happened to me before, even with the cd.

Hope Mom doesn't change her mind.

Hawka, I didn't know that I'd need a CD for the motherboard - I've never even heard of this. Why would I need a CD for the motherboard? Every PC I've used (from the old Packard-Bell to the CTX to the Dell Dimension) never had to have this. Is this something new?

No, this is something old. You've always purchased brand name computers with everything put together they way they want. This time you're purchasing a computer that has been built by someone. It's the same as when I built mine last spring. Motherboards need drivers for things like their on-board sound or video or other components. Mine has 7 or 8 different driver sets that it installs.

Won't ecollegepc install the drivers? The driver CD would be useful to have if you ever have to reinstall Windows, but as long as you buy the computer from them with Windows preinstalled, they should install all necessary drivers.

True. But as it's been stated, it would be nice to have the driver cd for the mobo & for Windows itself. On the chance a fresh Windows install is needed, without the mobo install cd,unless you already have the mobo drivers downloaded, or without a partition on the hd for a system recovery, you're pretty much S.O.L . Best to have physical copies of Windows, & the mobo cd.

And as Mike from ecollege pc responded to Cruise02 in her post above, all the disks are included with the computer and if they install the OS, all the drivers are loaded up and the computer is ready to go.

Hope this doesn't confuse you Cruise, but a tech told me about this some time ago (tattooing), it kind of explains the different kinds of OS (restore cd) you get with a package, like HP, Dell, etc. Here are two links, one is a forum, the other some sort of geek place. My desktop is a Systemax, not a brand name but built from components at CompUSA online. The stores didn't carry them, just brand names. It came with MB and OS cd's among others.

Links: http://www.geek.com/forums/topic/changing-motherboard-and-hard-drive-in-hp-computer

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-motherboard-tattoo.htm

If you want to learn more, Google motherboard tattoo. Pretty interesting.

Needing the MB drivers CD is making all this sound like a headache - what if I have to reformat the hard drive (malware infestation) and reinstall XP? Won't the computer be completely dead without the motherboard drivers if I have to reinstall the MB drivers, then this driver, that driver, install the OS, then install more drivers?

This is beginning to sound like an article for "MAD" magazine. Am feeling intimidated by all this in case I have to reformat and reinstall XP on this new PC.

EDIT - just skimmed over the links you gave me, Hawka - think it means I can't even upgrade this PC if need be?

With the massive amounts of advice you've been given about how NOT to ever get infested with malware ever again, you should not have to worry about that problem.

But should you ever need to reinstall your OS, you will now not have to worry about not having the drivers for your motherboard.

Cruise02 you worry too much.
Your computer will be fine, and if you ever need to reformat/reinstall, we'll help you through it. The only tricky part is the Intel Matrix Storage drivers -- and for all you know, Ecollege PC will send an XP disc where they've already been slipstreamed into the install. The rest of the drivers are installed after XP, and you'll have a disc for that that should make it easy.

There shouldn't be any problem with upgrading your PC if you decide to do so. EcollegePC wouldn't be doing any "motherboard tattooing." That's more of something you'd find with a Dell PC -- where the Windows disc from Dell only works on a Dell.

The Matrix Storage drivers are only an issue with XP - Vista and 7 have no problems what so ever (at least on the PC's I've set up recently).

Every OEM (that I've dealt with) has always provided the Mobo drivers on a separate disc - it's really not a problem (just remember to store it in a safe place).

Cruise, yes stop worrying and fretting about what "might happen". I personally have reformatted and reinstalled Windows XP at least five times on my desktop. I finally took the hard drive back as it tested bad and "knock wood" since it is has been fine. Mentioned the tattooing as to what you would not have in the computer you want. Any built computer is fully upgradeable, mine was and has been.

Yes Inland is right, don't misplace it, I keep all of mine in a ziplock bag near my computer. I also keep note of what is installed so I can put every thing back.

Found 2 at Office Depot -
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/146010/Lenovo-ThinkPlus-USB-Portable-Floppy-Drive/
This one's cheaper and the description says its for a Think Pad - it's for 3.5" floppies and is compatible with Win 98/ME/2000, so don't know if it'll work on that new desktop PC I'm hoping to buy next month though;

I'm leaning more towards this (in the above link) one than the one below (in the following link)

and here's another one but it costs a bit more
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/188770/IBM-USB-Portable-Floppy-disk-drive/
Will consider following your advice, Hawka - which external floppy drive should I get? I have a $25 reward card that I can use towards this drive.

Is the floppy drive in your 3 yr old PC defunct because you didn't use it much? And if I bought this external floppy drive I linked you to above, how would this be better than a built-in floppy drive considering I'll probably use it occasionally - I mean, even if I bought this external floppy drive and use this occasionally, won't this become defunct like the floppy drive in your 3 yr old PC did?

Those USB floppy drives from Office Depot are way overpriced.
Get one from Newegg or Amazon.
Paying more than $20 or $30 for a USB floppy drive is unnecessary.

Plus, ecollege will add one to your PC for $10.

Even better.

I don't have an external floppy cause I don't need it for anything now. The internal one on the desktop died from lack of use, again cause I don't use it. I suppose if I ever want to look at the pics I have on floppies I will buy one. At least an external can be used on more than one computer.

Anyway you don't live where it rains 50+ inches a year do you, dampness kills electronics. Maybe when used a lot they stay dry.

Thanks for enlightening me, Hawka - I didn't know that it rains a lot where you live.

I live in the Pittsburgh area - West Mifflin to be specific.

So, people, Hawka said that her floppy drive died from lack of use - will this happen to the one that I'm going to have put into my PC from EcollegePC considering I'll probably use it occasionally - rarely?

I doubt it.
If you're worried, just give it a little exercise once in a while.
Do you have many floppy games?

Yes - I have several -
Star Wars X Wing;
Where is Carmen Sandiego - USA;
" " " - World;
" " " - Space;
SimAnt;
Rex Nebular & Cosmic Gender Bender (don't know if I'll ever want to play this again, though);
MS Space Simulator;
and I never know if/when I'll order an old game (DOS/Win 3.xx) that comes on floppies, so I want to keep this option open.

I have a floppy in my 10 year old computer that still works like the day I got it. I wouldn't worry about it. Just have ecollege pc put one in for you and use it once in awhile.