Running Windows on a MacBook Pro 17"

[Riskwise]

I just ordered my MacBook Pro 17" and it is supposed to come today in like 2 hours. I plan on immediately running both Mac OSX, and Windows XP on it for poker. I went to the Mac Bootcamp site and they said I need a Windows XP install disc with service pack 2 on it. My computer is pretty old and when i got XP, the disc has service pack 1 on it. Do i need to buy windows XP all over again, or can i use a friends disc with service pack 2 on it for my machine too? I have a purchased copy of windows XP but i am totally clueless as to how the cd keys or duplicate security works. Is there anyone with any knowledge on this here?

Thanks.

[El Ishmael]

Talk to Tron.

[Borodog]

Just download SP2 from Microsoft.

[Tron]

[ QUOTE ]
Talk to Tron.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wish I could help but I have no idea about registration keys or Service Packs. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Riskwise]

[censored] will a mod please move this to the computer help forum?

[Riskwise]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Talk to Tron.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wish I could help but I have no idea about registration keys or Service Packs. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

well do you think it would be a problem to use someone elses cd to put windows on my computer?
does microsoft even check that?
and if they do, do you think i could just put in my info on my windows purchase and do it?
i dont care if you cant give factual answers, i just need some assumptions to go off of so i dont frantically go buy windows before it gets here or something dumb like that.

[El Ishmael]

[ QUOTE ]
well do you think it would be a problem to use someone elses cd to put windows on my computer?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would guess si.

[Tron]

Well I just did some digging on the Boot Camp site and it specifically says that you CAN NOT use an earlier version of XP and upgrade it to SP2 after you install it... I would give your friend's CD a try, but I really have no idea if you are allowed to use the same key twice. Surely someone else can answer that question, though.

[skunkworks]

There is something called slipstreaming where you can basically copy over the SP2 files to a normal XP CD to create an XP SP2 install CD.

Last ditch effort, you could also try just downloading an XP SP2 install CD, but I have a feeling your CD key wouldn't work (corporate version doesn't take normal cd keys I don't think?).

[posnera]

I don't know about your problem, but you should consider not using Bootcamp. There is software called Parallels that will allow you to run XP simultaneously with OSX, not requiring a reboot to switch systems.

http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/