Dual booting XP home on Vista HB preinstalled Compaq laptop

[chaucolai]

Hi there,

I have a Compaq CQ61-218TU with Windows Vista Home Basic preinstalled. My grandad found a few OEM copies of XP Home (the full version used in dual booting or installing something from scratch) unused (who knows why) and gave me a copy. I'm trying to dual boot XP as I have some pretty awesome games that I simply can't use.

However, I've been reading about how some new laptops don't support XP and don't have XP drivers and I'd really hate to go through it all to figure out it doesn't work. Is there any way to check whether it'll work? Also, I've heard that it won't automatically load Vista when started up unless you buy a program (that's not free). What happens if you don't get it? Does it automatically load XP or does it give you a choice?

Also: as they're OEM copies, they don't have the COA. I have two old, broken laptops with XP Home installed and a COA on it. Can I use that to register? Do I need the COA to register?

Thanks,

Teri

[-pops-]

OEM versions of Windows are intended for new machines. I'm somewhat doubtful that you will be able to install such a version on a computer already using another system.

as they're OEM copies, they don't have the COA.

They should have this.

[chaucolai]

OEM versions of Windows are intended for new machines. I'm somewhat doubtful that you will be able to install such a version on a computer already using another system.

as they're OEM copies, they don't have the COA.

They should have this.

Is the COA and the CD linked? If not then I have old COAs on broken machines that I can use.

[-pops-]

Is the COA and the CD linked? If not then I have old COAs on broken machines that I can use.

Only insofar as the COA/Product Key must match the version of the Windows version on the CD - that is to say a key for a Home version will not work correctly with a Pro version.