Can netbook XP license key be changed to a XP Home/Pro to allow 2GB RAM?

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hbk

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#37538 14-Jul-2009 21:04

Anyone know if this is possible, changing the license key for the pre-installed XP on my netbook to aXP Home/Pro key that I have (legit purchased for an old desktop) to bypass the 1GB RAM limit?

freitasm

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#235373 14-Jul-2009 22:06

Probably not, because Windows XP Home and Pro had different media and distribution... Windows Vista introduced a single media for all version, but no upgrades.

A new 'in place upgrades" is going to be enabled on Windows 7.

Ragnor

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#235421 14-Jul-2009 23:09

Just install Windows 7 RC, then buy Windows 7 when the RC runs out eventually, imo...

hbk

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#235476 15-Jul-2009 09:12

freitasm: Probably not, because Windows XP Home and Pro had different media and distribution... Windows Vista introduced a single media for all version, but no upgrades.

By media do you mean disc? I had a copy of XP I got with the educational license when I was at university and it has Home and Pro on the same CD, you select which you want to install at the beginning of the installation, same key works for both.

Ragnor: Just install Windows 7 RC, then buy Windows 7 when the RC runs out eventually, imo...

I was thinking of doing that, will W7 run as fast as XP on the lower specs? And if I install it will it have drivers for all the netbook hardware? (I've never done a fresh Windows install on a laptop - only used the restore disc, is the battery level features etc all part of Windows?)

I found a couple posts where people had installed W7 the HP Mini but rolled back to XP because of... unclear reasons.

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#235482 15-Jul-2009 09:31

I am running Windows 7 on my Acer Aspire One (120 GB hard drive) and find it as fast as XP if not faster.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

freitasm

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#235483 15-Jul-2009 09:33

Windows 7 is really fast on my small HP Mini Note. The problem is that I don't think you can legally download the Windows 7 RC anymore. Otherwise it will run until June 2010 on this RC license.

hbk

94 posts

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#235603 15-Jul-2009 12:43

I just checked the e-mail I had from MS and the RC is available until the end of July according to that so I'll try to download it.

What model HP Mini do you have? I want to upgrade to the Mini 110 XP when it finally arrives here, 1366x768 resolution and HD video support. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkhIZqOePps

sbiddle

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#235916 16-Jul-2009 00:56

I have 2GB RAM in my MSI Wind U100 Plus with the stock standard MSI OEM XP Home and it works fine.

I wasn't aware that there were any restrictions on most netbooks installing more than 1GB RAM. I know MS licencing is supposed to prevent this but there are typically no stops in place to prevent it.

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hbk

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#235993 16-Jul-2009 09:51

Ok, I had just assumed there were stops in place, might as well buy the memory and try it out then.

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#236347 17-Jul-2009 08:58

The Windows 7 RC is available for download until August the 20th.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

hbk

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#237000 19-Jul-2009 22:53

freitasm: Windows 7 is really fast on my small HP Mini Note. The problem is that I don't think you can legally download the Windows 7 RC anymore. Otherwise it will run until June 2010 on this RC license.

I was reading about installing W7 on my netbook earlier and found this article that mentions reduced battery life vs. XP; http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-7-xp,2339-3.html

Did you notice this? Possibly because of Aero etc and GPU doing more work?

trevleyb

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#237019 19-Jul-2009 23:35

hbk: Anyone know if this is possible, changing the license key for the pre-installed XP on my netbook to aXP Home/Pro key that I have (legit purchased for an old desktop) to bypass the 1GB RAM limit?

The answer is YES. I have a HP Mini and put and additional Gb of RAM in and installed XP Pro without issue. Worked fine.

But, Windows 7 works better. Its faster and works great.

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#237112 20-Jul-2009 10:28

If anything, I've found battery life in W7 a bit better than XP's.

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freitasm

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#237116 20-Jul-2009 10:40

hbk:
freitasm: Windows 7 is really fast on my small HP Mini Note. The problem is that I don't think you can legally download the Windows 7 RC anymore. Otherwise it will run until June 2010 on this RC license.

I was reading about installing W7 on my netbook earlier and found this article that mentions reduced battery life vs. XP; http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-7-xp,2339-3.html

Did you notice this? Possibly because of Aero etc and GPU doing more work?

No, I see good battery life. And seriously, why would anyone want Aero on a mini notebook. You want to squeeze as much as possible those little things. I run mine with all off, which means it looks like Windows 2000...

I have all those fancy settings on my big laptops with plenty of memory and faster GPUs, not on my small netbook.