Looking for Windows XP OEM Installation Media

[Eric Shubert]

On 06/07/2012 09:52 AM, Mark Phillips wrote:
> I am refurbishing an old Dell Latitude D620 for my daughter. I am
> installing Ubuntu 12.0.4, and I would like to have Windows XP run in
> VirtualBox so she can access Itunes. I have several OEM Windows XP
> licenses from other Dell machines that I have converted completely to
> Linux, but I don't have any XP installation CDs. Dell won't send them to
> me. Does anyone have an XP installation CD I can borrow?
>
> If I am violating any laws with the request, please let me know. My
> simple minded view is that I have a valid license, just not the media,
> so borrowing the media for an installation should not be an issue.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark
>
>
First off, IANAL, and YMMV.

TTBOMK, Windoze OEM licenses are good only on the machine they're issued 
for. Your D620 probably has a license sticker on it though. You won't 
however be able to install a retail version of XP using the OEM license key.

Windoze licenses vary regarding virtualized machines. For example, Vista 
Home Premium does not allow for running as a VM guest, while Vista 
Ultimate does (on the same hardware). I know that XP Pro allows running 
as a VM guest (on the same hardware), but I'm not sure about XP Home. 
Allowing for something in the license doesn't necessarily mean that it 
won't work though (I don't honestly know if it'd work or not).

I would find a Dell XP installation disk, which will install on your 
D620 w/out requiring activation. You might stop by AZStRUT some day to 
see if you can use theirs on site. Once you have XP on the bare 
hardware, you can use the P2V utility for VB to create the VM guest 
files. Then install Ubuntu and VB on the bare hardware, and copy in the 
VM guest files you created earlier. That's the best way I know of to get 
to where you want to be.

-- 
-Eric 'shubes'