any Dell OS CD will install on any Dell machine (I believe this may be
true with other top tier vendors). The CDs check for a Dell BIOS and
will install without need for any activation. Since there are so few
top tier box makers these days, and Carly destroyed anything good at HP,
I've stuck with Dell. One advantage is that when I re-task a machine and
reinstall the OS, I can just grab the CD from my most recent purchase
and have the most recent service packs already folded in (i.e. XP SP2).
This would also work if you bought a Dell with Vista and wanted to
"downgrade" immediately, or were willing to wipe and reinstall to get
XP, and have an old CD lying around. Heck, I've got a 550MHz machine I
use as a print server I got for $50 off ebay and...XPSP2 installed
without a hitch.
The flip side of that devil's pact is that you can't take your windows
licenses with you - they're effectively locked to the machine. Since I
don't build my own anymore, I don't really care - anything I buy will
come with an OS.
Jordan
******* ****** ******* ******** ******* ******* ******* ***
* Read list FAQ at: http://www.seaint.org/list_FAQ.asp
*
* This email was sent to you via Structural Engineers
* Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) server. To
* subscribe (no fee) or UnSubscribe, please go to:
*
*
http://www.seaint.org/sealist1.asp
*
* Questions to seaint-ad@seaint.org. Remember, any email you
* send to the list is public domain and may be re-posted
* without your permission. Make sure you visit our web
* site at: http://www.seaint.org
******* ****** ****** ****** ******* ****** ****** ********