On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 11:53 AM, Dale <rdalek1...@gmail.com> wrote: > James Broadhead wrote: >> On 2 February 2012 15:34, Paul Hartman <paul.hartman+gen...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> On Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 7:06 PM, Dale <rdalek1...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> Your reply made me think of something. I had a XP reinstall once that >>>> required a number from MS because of the new mobo and hard drive. They >>>> said it recognized the change in the serial numbers. When I ran into >>>> that before tho, it installed fine but gave 30 days to put in the >>>> number. Does winders 7 have something similar? >>> >>> When you install Windows 7, Vista or XP (SP3 or newer), you can >>> actually skip the product key step and it'll install as a trial >>> version (30-day? 90-day? something like that). You can then "upgrade" >>> to the real version by activating it when you're comfortable that >>> everything is working properly -- or don't activate it at all and >>> install Gentoo. Trying to keep it on-topic. :) >> >> This problem isn't related to Activation (which a lot of people have >> been describing). Those errors tend to be pretty explicit. >> >> In my experience, Windows 7 is relatively lax at install-time, and >> will give you 30 days leeway before it demands a key (which may or may >> not require calling the hotline). >> >> I'd say that you've either been hit by; >> - An incorrect OEM disk that's checking the BIOS for some kind of >> Manufacturer flag (and not getting what it wants). >> - A BIOS setting that Win7 doesn't like working with (I think that >> IDE-compat/AHCI is a good avenue of approach). Mike's link looks good >> (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2466753) >> >> >> Also, install Linux, jeez :3 >> >> > > > I'm working on the Linux thing. He's warming up. It's like I told him, > Firefox looks the same on Linux as it does on windoze. The differences > between Linux, Kubuntu is what I am going for, and windoze is all under > the hood. All they do is surf the web, check emails, and check on their > banking stuff, maybe pay a bill or two. > > For what they do, Linux would be great. He's good enough on puters to > upgrade Kubuntu too. It's just point and clicky anyway. > > Gentoo would be a bit much tho, unless I could build the packages here > and install them there as binaries. > > I hope they get home soon. I want to check the BIOS settings.
Pretty much what I've got going for my grandmother. I had her working with Evolution and Firefox on XP before we switched her over to the same on Easy Peasy. She's very comfortable with it, and even clicks on icons needed when it wants to update. -- :wq
