Putting Windows XP (and drivers) on a new hd

upgradelenovo · Aug 10, 2015

Hello, I just bought a new IDE hd for a dell dimension 1100 desktop computer. I'd like to download windows xp and drivers, put them on an external harddrive, plug that into the desktop, and have the desktop working with the new drive. Can someone please tell me if this is a viable plan, and if so, how to do it? And if not, what to do instead? Thanks.

PS the desktop came with windows on it, and has a sticker with a product key on the side of it, so that's why I think I should be able to download windows for free.

Math Geek · Aug 10, 2015

not totally following what you want to do here. do you wish to install windows from an external usb drive? or to install it to and run it from the external drive?

xp won't install from usb unless it is a new system. the older hardware is not capable of this. running it from a usb drive is not possible that i have seen for win xp.

you can download a copy of xp and use that legally so long as you have a valid key for it. remember than xp had a ton of different versions so be sure to download the right version for the key you have. the sticker should say what it is.

Paul NZ · Aug 10, 2015

XP wont be free, unless you pay for it. Or if it's pirated

Math Geek · Aug 10, 2015

downloading the iso file will be free so he can have install media. that is perfectly legal.

activating through some means other than a valid key is when it is a problem. he stated he has a key on a sticker on the side of the case like most prebuilts, so he is fine to get a copy of xp however he has to. plenty of sources for it even though MS stopped offering it.

Paul NZ · Aug 10, 2015

And the ISO will be where? Doubt it'll be from the MS site

Math Geek · Aug 10, 2015

correct, MS pulled official copies a long time ago but you can still find it on just about every popular program hosting site. the rare dell media center edition of xp is about the only one you won't find online. i needed a copy to restore an old pc and it took me 2 weeks to find one and i know lots of places to look that many do not know of

again the install media, be it dvd/usb/iso file or whatever is not what MS charges you for. the product key that let's you use the OS is what you pay for. you could just as easily borrow a cd from a friend to install from as well. accomplishes the same thing and just as legal. so long as it is activated with a valid key, then there is no issue with where you get the install files. just because it is not an official MS download does not mean it is somehow pirated or includes hacktivation methods with it.

upgradelenovo · Aug 11, 2015

okay, thanks, everyone so far.. I now know to burn to cd to install. I found that the version of windows on the desktop is "xp home edition version 2002 service pack 2" and the computer is DE051. So I also found "Windows XP Home Edition SP2" for download and I'm assuming SP2 means service pack two. I'm gonna download that, burn it cd, install it, use my product key, and then download windows xp drivers from somewhere because I heard I need those too.

Math Geek · Aug 11, 2015

you will want to look for the network driver before installing windows. that way you can get the pc on the web to grab whatever other drivers you may ned.

more than likely you can get all you need from the product page of the pc you have. otherwise you will have to look for them piece by piece which can be a pain.

upgradelenovo · Aug 27, 2015

Thanks everyone, I installed it last night and it didn't ask me for a key but works perfectly. I didn't even need drivers. The version of windows said it was specifically for dell computers. Anyway thanks again

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