Re: Installing XP - license question

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ulillillia wrote:
I don't have the license with me, however, I have two computers at home. My dad uses his and I use my own as I use the computer far more often. It seems that, from what I can tell, XP supports up to five users. My mom rarely uses the computer and that's about it. Three users, two computers.

The question is simple though. Can I install XP on my computer and my dad's computer using the same CD (we only have one CD available)? Only three users will be using it, below the limit. I'd like to upgrade from Windows 98 SE as I'm reading about a lot of minuses about it, especially memory management.



	You seem to be confused permitted network connections with installation
licenses.  The two are completely unrelated.  WinXP Home permits up to
five simultaneous inbound network connections to the computer on which
it's installed, while WinXP Pro permits up to 10 such connections.
However, you still need to purchase a separate WinXP license for each
computer on which you install it.

    Just as it has *always* been with *all* Microsoft operating
systems, it's necessary (to be in compliance with both the EULA and U.S.
copyright law http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/117.html), if not
technically) to purchase one WinXP license for each computer on which it
is installed.  (Consult an attorney versed in copyright law to determine
final applicability in your locale.)  The only way in which WinXP
licensing differs from that of earlier versions of Windows is that
Microsoft has finally added a copy protection and anti-theft mechanism,
Product Activation, to prevent (or at least make more difficult)
multiple installations using a single license.


Also, I develop games using Gamestudio. Would games run faster in XP without anything in the way of a hardware change?



	That would depend entirely upon the design and coding of each game.


Finally, XP has all those fades and stuff - they cause the computer to go slower from more processor usage. 


	Only if you have a video adapter that's under-powered and/or lacks
sufficient RAM of its own.


Is there a way I can disable this to speed up my computer? To me, speed is the name of the game. 


	If speed is your sole goal, upgrade your hardware.  Also, WinXP's
eye-candy can be turned off to help a bit, if you've inadequate hardware:

    To help improve WinXP's performance on older machines:

1)  Right-click the Task Bar > Properties > Start Menu, ensure "Classic
Start menu" is selected.

2)  Right-click an empty spot on the Desktop > Properties > Themes >
select "Windows Classic."

3)  Right-click My Computer > Properties > Performance > Settings >
Visual Effects, ensure "Adjust for best performance" is selected.


--

Bruce Chambers

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