Buying a copy of XP [Archive]

Alex Murdaugh

13th October 2006, 08:00 AM

Ok, long story short.

I just bought a Mac Book Pro. Didn't really know ANYTHING at all about them. Most of the programs I need for school are PC format.

I've been looking for the past few days for whatever way to get Windows on here thats easiest on my parent pocketbook.(I'm a jobless college leech at the moment, haha.)

I figured I'd just get the student version of XP because it's only like 67 dollars or something like that, but I wanted to try it first.
Loaded up Parallels with a friends copy and it wouldn't even recognize it as a boot disk. Can't figure out why.

Next Option I figure I have is BootCamp. But the problem is, the student edition comes with SP2 on a second CD. Is this a problem? I've read through the most of the threads, and I guess I'm just asking if anyone has had experience with the Student Media edition of Windows. I just don't want to buy it and get screwed into buying a different copy.
Would just a regular copy of XP pro do the trick?

Paul2660

13th October 2006, 01:03 PM

I would recommend using a CD with SP2 already on the disk, not a second disk. Odd's are that is your problem. I know that bootcamp needs the XP with SP2 already installed. If you are using another version more than likely it's an older version (original XP) and it will not load correctly.

Do a web search, you can routinely find XP professional with SP2 for around 114.00. More than the 67.00 you paid, but still a bargin.

Paul C.

bdj21ya

13th October 2006, 04:14 PM

You can easily slipstream the service pack into a new copy of the disc with Autostreamer (it gives you step by step instructions). You'll just need a little bit of tech saavy and another Windows PC with CD burning capability.

Mufasu

15th October 2006, 06:52 PM

You need to have a sp2 disk to load xp with bootcamp (not sure why, but it may have something to do with the same reason you can't use an upgrade disk, the eject button doesn't work during install due to lack of software? i 'unno...) at any rate http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html is a link to a good slipstreaming guide, the only thing is you need to have access to an xp computer with a cd-burner to make the disk (shouldn't be too hard to find on a college campus). good luck.