You can if you buy a retail copy.  That's what I did because I didn't want to be forced into VISTA before an acceptable Linux distro was available.  You may have trouble finding SP2 (avoid SP3 - it primarily loads VISTA spyware onto your system).   Just be SURE there is no "fine print" about they "might" substitute SP3 if SP2 is "not available."  I do know that a friend bought SP2 recently and the price had gone up $50 since 2006.  People who understand what VISTA, SP3 and WindowsLive are all about (spyware and taking control of your PC away from you) are making safety plays like I did getting SP2.

If any PC that you want to put an OEM version on has any OEM XP product key on the side of its case, you can use that product key to install a CLEAN (non-hardware-proprietory) OEM of XP.  You actually can get a clean OEM XP free, I'm sure, if you try.  It isn't really the software you pay for - its the product key.

AnnaSummers


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Bob Lendrim 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 4:16 PM
Subject: [PCBUILD] XP Operating system portability


I'm planning to buy a Win XP SP2 operating system. I'm going to try to install it on a Dell Dimension 4100 PIII with 512 megs RAM. If the Dimension 4100 can't handle it, I'd like to later use it on a different computer. I'm looking at this OEM package:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116400

My question: If the Dimension 4100 package doesn't work out, can I LEGALLY transfer this OS from one computer to another?

Thanks.

                         PCBUILD's List Owners:
                      Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
                        Mark Rode<[log in to unmask]>

               The NOSPIN Group Promotions is now offering
                 our special coffee mugs and mouse pads
              with the PCBUILD logo...  at a great price!!!
             http://freepctech.com/goodies/promotions.shtml