eMachines OEM XP woes - time to buy $tandard?

I've had trouble with my eMachines desktop's WinXP from the getgo
(11/03). The often reported "corrupt/missing Registry files" struck
early, and I managed to get a Repair Console CD from eMachines. After
doing a ghost install of OEM XP onto a new HD, which lasted a few
months, and more recently restoring the OS to its install state and
having the onboard nVidia devices 'disappear', I'm ready to try
something else.

Would purchasing a retail version of XP Home Standard (w/SP2) fix my
woes? My hope is that installing the retail version will be more
stable somehow. Can I rely on it detecting the onboard devices out of
the gate?

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: XP Pro CD - Retail or OEM?
    ... > me that a retail CD will not work to repair an OEM installation. ... Both OEM and Retail CDs can do a repair but you cannot do one with the other ... (you must use the same sort as you used to install). ... > Is there no way to tell from the copy whether it is retail, oem, upgrade, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment)
  • Re: XP Pro CD - Retail or OEM?
    ... the retail CD was better to have for certain repairs and things that the OEM ... At least I was able to use my friend's CD to run the Windows XP Upgrade ... >> Windows Me) or a clean install. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment)
  • Re: Activation stinks because I cant reinstall....
    ... The OEM versions are exactly what ... the OP should have been provided from the vendor and the retail versions ... >> Slipstream a release CD to SP2 and use release key - OK ... >> Install or repair with SP2 CD and use retail key - FAIL ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: OEM system builder license
    ... I was given a Dell laptop with an OEM license of W2K Pro. ... Can I install my WinXP on this laptop? ... Yes, but I recommend against it, for the above reason. ... I strongly recommend the Retail Upgrade, not the Retail Full, and not ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: retail license
    ... > Your prior post indicates that I will not be able to use an OEM CD to ... > and roll back so that a retail copy can go with the machine. ... There is also a basic licensing issue in that you cannot install one ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
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