Windows XP installation

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Certainly if you're gaming then yes you're better off with Windows for the imminent future.

2gb ram isn't enough for later versions of windows, so unless you could be persuaded to get your pc up to a more modern standard it sounds like sticking with xp would be best for now. The problem is obtaining a copy - you can use your product key with any disc you can get as long as the version is the same: i.e. Windows XP Professional key with a Windows XP Professional disc/install so you'll be doing nothing illegal.

The potential problem you might have, is that since your key could be an OEM version for your computer, it might not work. Normally a quick phone call to microsoft would get it unlocked, but since they no longer support the OS you...
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There is no XP download freely accessible by Microsoft. What you found is an update. It is only the Service Pack. If you have a legitimate product key, you can activate it using the corresponding media or .iso.
Although, if you only have a key, it probably means that it is an OEM/DSP version and if it has been used before on another PC, then it is not legitimate. In any case, if you find a clean XP image online, you could try it.
 
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OK so an XP key can only be used once? So if I uninstall XP I can't re-install using the same key?
 
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If you re-use a key in win 7, the key you use will just either fail or Turns into a 30 day trial key. I'm not sure about XP. Try contacting microsoft

 
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I mean no offence, but if you can't tell the difference between an update, a boot disk and an operating system, I think you should be buying a fresh copy of Windows 7 or 8.1 instead and be done with it.
 
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My computers specs probably wouldn't cope with it - it's quite old.

Unless you think otherwise?
 
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What are your specs?

Also if that's the case, perhaps if you only use your computer for standard home/office use (as i'm guessing could be the case if it's old) have you considered trying linux? Apart from the benefit of being completely free and supported (unlike xp), some distributions such as Ubuntu are designed to be used as-is without the need for technical knowledge and are significantly lighter on a machine than any windows OS.
 
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Well the main thing I use it for is gaming - I have updated the graphics card. I understand you can game with Linux using Wine but I assume that the all round experience wouldn't be as good as XP
 
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Certainly if you're gaming then yes you're better off with Windows for the imminent future.

2gb ram isn't enough for later versions of windows, so unless you could be persuaded to get your pc up to a more modern standard it sounds like sticking with xp would be best for now. The problem is obtaining a copy - you can use your product key with any disc you can get as long as the version is the same: i.e. Windows XP Professional key with a Windows XP Professional disc/install so you'll be doing nothing illegal.

The potential problem you might have, is that since your key could be an OEM version for your computer, it might not work. Normally a quick phone call to microsoft would get it unlocked, but since they no longer support the OS you could just be flat out of luck.

Just keep in mind as well, it's against forum rules to discuss illegal downloads so even though you want to do a legitimate thing, we can only help you so far, and as has been said previously there is no where on microsoft's site you can download it.
 
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Solution
It says it's service pack 2 FOR Windows XP - not Windows XP itself.

So either they didn't understand you/they were an idiot, or the naming convention for that download is a bit odd. The filesize is vaguely what i'd expect it to be, so you could try it and see what happens I suppose, but I can't see it as anything but the service pack 2 update.
 
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The fact that it's an ISO means that it's more likely to be the full thing doesn't it? Because you shouldn't have to burn just an update to a disc.

Is there a way to tell before I launch into wiping the hard drive?
 
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You should be able to see what it is going to do when you have the disc you burn in the drive and go to run it or boot off it, but you'll need to read all the stuff it says about what it's doing.

Just wondering why you need to wipe the drive? Is it not possible to fix your current install if it has problems?
 
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