[BC] Windows XP Question

[Jeff Glass]

In a message dated 2/23/10 11:07:23 AM Central Standard Time, 
broadcast-request at radiolists.net writes:

> eff Glass wrote:
>  > If I were to buy XP from Ebay, what do I need to make sue I get with 
the
>  > media disk to be sure I can install it on one of my Dell laptops?
>  >   
>  
>  Just get the drivers FREE from the Dell website and you are good to go.
>  
>  -- 
>  73,
>  Kevin Raper
>  KJ4HYD
>  CE WCKI WQIZ

Kevin,

That's not really where I was headed with the original question. I have all 
of the XP drivers already, so that's not going to be a problem. 

If I buy a full install CD off ebay, I assume it will have an install code, 
but how do I get a COA? Is there anything else I need to install the O/S 
over and above the O/S install and the COA?  Yes, I have the drivers. Anything 
else I need?

Some of the ebay resellers state that the install key is provided, but the 
COA is on a sticker on my computer. Well, none of my 'puters have COA 
stickers. How big a deal is that? COA generated when I contact the mother ship to 
activate the O/S?

Why is it that some computers want to phone the mother ship to activate the 
O/S, and other computers don't?  My only experience has been with Dell 
laptops, and Dell O/S install disks. I assume if I built a computer from scratch 
that the O/S will then want to phone home to activate, right? What I don't 
understand is, where does the COA come from, and at what point in the 
install/activation process does the COA get generated? 

Yes, I got it that I can't use my Dell O/S install disk on a computer that 
I (hypothetically) build from scratch. Dell O/S disks only work on Dell 
computers, right? 

Fortunately, all of my Dell laptops are of the same vintage as the rollout 
date of XP, so I have not had any hardware compatibility issues so far. (but 
then, I've only done two or three O/S restores, and those were on Dell's).

Thanks,

Jeff Glass</HTML>