Laptop Questions (+Win XP pro question)

[J.Christie]

I'm looking at laptops, and I'm wondering if any owners can help me by answering these questions:

1. Can you install a new hard drive in it?
2. Is it possible to upgrade XP Home to XP Pro?
3. Will pressing "Num Lock" save me from having to use the Fn key?

Thanks

P.s. (For a friend) Just wondering, but as some of you may know, Microsoft are doind this check by validating versions of Windows. If the check finds out that you are using illegal software, what will it do?

[Sput]

1. Yep, but it can be tricky. They're cheap to replace though.
2. So long as you buy xp pro, it's fine. If you're buying brand new there might be an option to upgrade to it for less than buying it later.
3. That depends what you want to press the Fn key for. If numbers then yes.

Microsoft product activation is a fun one. If it finds an invalid key it generally just doesn't let you use the software. Cracked versions of windows and whatnot do exist that skip this step of course.

[Chris]

P.s. (For a friend) Just wondering, but as some of you may know, Microsoft are doind this check by validating versions of Windows. If the check finds out that you are using illegal software, what will it do?

It will blow up your computer and you will have swat team at your door at the crack of dawn.

[babyben]

P.s. (For a friend) Just wondering, but as some of you may know, Microsoft are doind this check by validating versions of Windows. If the check finds out that you are using illegal software, what will it do?

It only checks for illegal Windows XP software, not the software installed on your machine i.e. Photoshop, Flash or whatever.

I don't think it actually 'does' anything other than prevent you from downloading upgrades. But it still will let you download security updates and patches.

Microsoft stresses that this system "does not collect any information that can be used by Microsoft to identify or contact the user".

[Nick Harvey]

"Evacuate your home immediately. Your computer is about to explode due to its software being illegal."

[J.Christie]

Thanks everyone, even Nick for making me laugh for the first time today.

[Neil Jones]

1. Can you install a new hard drive in it?

Depends on the laptop.

2. Is it possible to upgrade XP Home to XP Pro?

Yes but if you won't use the extra features in Pro you'll be spending £160 for nothing.

3. Will pressing "Num Lock" save me from having to use the Fn key?

Depends on the laptop.

P.s. (For a friend) Just wondering, but as some of you may know, Microsoft are doind this check by validating versions of Windows. If the check finds out that you are using illegal software, what will it do?

Not allow you to download anything from Microsoft.

And if you use a certain key for a certain version of XP Pro, now that MS have stopped offering updates for non Service Pack 1 users, you won't even get any updates either.

[Andrew Wood]

P.s. (For a friend) Just wondering, but as some of you may know, Microsoft are doind this check by validating versions of Windows. If the check finds out that you are using illegal software, what will it do?

If you're referring to Windows Update, if it finds that your OS is not legit, it won't let you download any security updates from the site.

However, if you set your Automatic Update settings to Download Automatically, you will still get the updates, but when your OS feels like grabbing them (or at the time you set it to).

[J.Christie]

P.s. (For a friend) Just wondering, but as some of you may know, Microsoft are doind this check by validating versions of Windows. If the check finds out that you are using illegal software, what will it do?

If you're referring to Windows Update, if it finds that your OS is not legit, it won't let you download any security updates from the site.

However, if you set your Automatic Update settings to Download Automatically, you will still get the updates, but when your OS feels like grabbing them (or at the time you set it to).

What about if you did a System Restore and restored it to a time before you did the check?

[Andrew Wood]

Any time you try and update via Windows Update - or even download patches/drivers/extras from the MS download site now - you have to go through the MS Genuine Advantage validation process if it has not been successful before.

This is different from Windows Product Activation - however, if you've successfully activated a genuine copy of Windows, validation shouldn't be an issue

[Sput]

The hackers are one step ahead it would seem. I've come across cracked xp with SP2 and all manner of key generators.

Not that I would...