Windows XP

**enf** · 02-15-11, 09:22 AM

So I have an older laptop (Pentium III, 1Gb of RAM) that was running XP Home Edition SP2 but I wanted to see how it could handle Win7. It turns out not very well... I wasnt impressed with the choppiness when in some applications. Regardless, I reinstalled XP but couldnt find my key anywhere. I had an SDK license with my old job but of course it expired Jan 31 and here we are two weeks later...

Is there absolutely no way for me to even purchase a key now? I saw on Microsoft's site that they stopped selling XP, but there has to be somewhere that has some leftovers, no? Even newegg isnt selling it anymore.

**Phyrelight** · 02-15-11, 09:37 AM

there isn't a key on a label on the bottom of the laptop?

**enf** · 02-15-11, 10:21 AM

Nah, its SDK, so I d/led the iso from Microsoft's site and they provided a key for me (which I couldve sworn I copied into a text file but I cant find it for the life of me...). The laptop is an old work laptop that came loaded with Vista which I promptly unloaded... haha

**WileECyte** · 02-15-11, 12:22 PM

I'd hate to see Vista on a Pentium III. That was a big part in why Vista was so reviled. Microsoft was allowing OEMs to slap it on old hardware that just wasn't equipped to run it. The other major factor was the driver support early on sucked. nVidia and Creative had HORRIBLE issues with Vista early on. Once that stabilized, as long as you had enough RAM and CPU, it ran as well as any prior Windows OS.

**Blakeman** · 02-15-11, 12:31 PM

You could always try out Linux... I suggest ubuntu....

Ubuntu homepage | Ubuntu

**HeavyG** · 02-15-11, 12:54 PM

If you don't have the actual CD, then there is no way to recover your CD Key. If you look at your Windows CD, there is a serial number around the hole near the center of the disk. If you contact customer support, you can provide this number to them and have them re-issue a new key.

Unfortunately, I think you are out of luck. I had a similar issue with a copy of XP Professional that I got for free from MSDNAA at my school. I had graduated and was no longer enrolled into the MSDNAA program. They wouldn't give me a CD key... so goodbye XP!

**Phyrelight** · 02-15-11, 01:56 PM

I have ubuntu on one of my older laptops, it works well.

**flame** · 02-15-11, 01:58 PM

yeah i have an old laptop i want to restore, its still works i just have a bunch of shit on it and would like a fresh install. 7 year old toshiba, guess i should just chunk it.

**enf** · 02-15-11, 03:08 PM

Yeah, no physical media to look at, so if Im SOL, Im SOL. I know the laptop wont run Win7 great so I really want a fresh install of XP even if I have to pay for it. Thats more what Im looking for. Even just a site thats still selling some leftover copies of XP.

I use a few different programs when DJing that wouldnt run on ubuntu, no dice on that route.