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Alex S
Alex S asked in Computers & InternetSoftware · 1 decade ago

Vista upgrade on unactivated XP Home?

Hello. I would like to buy vista for my new computer. Unfortunately the only vista I can afford is the upgrade package, which requires a pre-existing installation of 2000/XP, but I currently have no operating system on my computer. Would it be possible to temporarily install a copy of windows xp home that has already been activated and is being used on another computer, and upgrade it to vista without having to activate the XP? Thanks.

P.S I cannot afford the full version of vista.

Update:

I would prefer to steer clear of 7 due to some major security problems it is having at the moment. And not only that; microsoft software is always buggy at release. I would personally like to wait a couple of years for MS to iron all the bugs out, but I urgently need an OS. Thanks for your quick answer anyway.

P.S I can't use linux as I have too many .exe applications I can't do without.

Update 2:

I have installed that copy of xp home on another computer before, to test an old hard disk, and it worked, but I couldn't activate it. What I'm asking is, can I upgrade to vista from that state? Thanks for your answer.

2 Answers

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  • cherrihill
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    microsoft made the operating systems ( xp,vista etc.) in a way that you have to identify the computer you use it on. In other words most of the windows products are made so you can not use them on another computer once you install it in one.I understand that windows xp office is usable on more than one computer so if you can get a used one of those you can use it.

  • luvnhatelife
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Why would you upgrade to Vista? It's better then XP, but the new Windows already came out with is Windows 7.

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