Rebuilding PC

[crazy8parlayclue]

I got a Gateway GT5658E from a yardsale for $20. It was missing both 500g hdd. So basically no storage, no Operating System. I wouldn't have purchased it if I didn't see these few key items. The Product Key for Vista Home Premium, The 3gb of memory still in the slots, and the Radeon 2400xt video card.

My first test when I got home was plugging it in.
Result: All the fans turned on. Power Supply, PSU, and Ventilation. No beeping of any kind.

My second test was to hook up my monitor and turn it on to see if anything happened.
Result: A bunch of error codes:
Nvidia Boot Agent 249.0542
PXE-E61-Media Test Failure, Check Cable
PXE-MOF-Exiting Nvidia Boot Agent

So I turned it off after writing the errors down.

My third test was to install a hard drive from an old computer that still had XP on it just to see what would happen.

Third test booted and showed the Gateway logo. Then it went to a set up screen.

Now I know I can't set it up on that hard drive because it already has XP in it.

So I am guessing the next thing I should be doing is buying a new hard drive and finding a friend who has the Vista Home Premium disc so I can get this puppy started.

And suggestions or am I going about this the wrong way???

[Nuclear Krusader]

Essentially, yes. Although I'd hold on the purchase of a drive and try instead with a spare you might have laying around. You can even install Windows XP, just don't activate it; the important thing here is to make sure everything in the machine works.

[crazy8parlayclue]

I was kind of wondering about that. I'm not really interested in Vista. I'd much rather have XP because I am use to it or upgrade to Win7. So with your statement, I have these few Q's:

1. In using a hd that's just laying around, does it have to be clean?
2. Clean or not, how do I go about installing XP without an install disc? (All of my computers are second hand.)
3. Can I do anything with the HD that I took out of the other computer that already has XP in it?

I can always buy a Vista Home Premium Full on ebay. Use the Product Key on the tower and then put the software back on ebay because I never used the Key that came with the software.

[glc]

1. No, but it would be best to delete the existing partitions when you run Setup.
2. You can't - you need some sort of install media.
3. Wipe it and use it.

The Vista key you have will only work with an OEM disk, not a full retail.

If you want XP, you are going to have to buy it. You should be able to find XP Home OEM for around 90 bucks.

[crazy8parlayclue]

A couple questions.

I read that an OEM OS can only be used in original computer it was installed in. Is this true?

If I buy a Vista Home Premium OEM on ebay and use the product key on the outside of the computer tower I currently have, will I be able to resell that VHP OEM on ebay because I didn't use the PK that was supplied with it?

[crazy8parlayclue]

Forgot one other thing.

A friend told me because my PK is 3 years old that I will have to call Microsoft to get a replacement PK because that one expired.

True or False?

[ryuk999]

You'll be able to resell the disc because you didn't use the product key. Also I've never herd of any time limit on the product keys, you should be fine.