XP won't install in VB

[sctvguy1]

I have the original IBM Recovery CDs with XP.  I set up the VB, it starts to load, then complains the BIOS is incompatible.
I know it cannot be the hardware BIOS, as this is the original IBM PC that came with XP.  Is there some workaround
that can get the install moving forward past this?

[ElCuervo]

Recovery CDs are not installation CDs, and as you have discovered, they are tethered to the machine they came with. Although you may think you are using the same machine, VBox is not - it is just what the name implies, a virtual machine that does not have the same settings, BIOS or otherwise, that the actual hardware has. Therefore, you cannot use those CDs to do a VBox installation.

But, yes, there is a workaround, albeit unsavory - get an actual Windows installation disc. VBox will load it up even more easily than it would install to "non-virtual" hardware.

[kjpetrie]

Don't download and read the VirtualBox manual and don't follow the instructions for setting the hardware identification codes. You really mustn't do that in this situation.

I really don't know whether that would work, but it doesn't matter as you're not going to try it.

[bicol_willem]

Don't download and read the VirtualBox manual and don't follow the instructions for setting the hardware identification codes. You really mustn't do that in this situation.

I really don't know whether that would work, but it doesn't matter as you're not going to try it.

In defense of sctvguy1, we all don't have THAT much time for such things next to running our lives. Many of us are not the "bookworm" type as well.
So to me he did the right thing asking here.    He got the answers in a eyeblink, rather smart! 

[ezas]

A few days ago I tried to use the XP license (From the sticker on the case) from a machine that had XP preloaded, to install on another machine with a regular XP upgrade installation disk and it wouldn't take the license. No error, just that it wasn't a valid license. I guess the hash of the license gives the install routine some indication of what kind of install it's expecting, I had another way to go so I didn't spend any time on it.

[T6]

no, some license keys are meant to be used with certain sp version of xp

if you try to put a license for a sp2 in a installer sp1 you will get this, sometimes with a sp3 happens too

especially with dell and hp machines with recovery discs

if you have a oem disk and your license is not oem the error will happen too, invalid license key

for the original post, if the license key is for a oem, forget it, it is illegal to install on virtualbox because only retail will be legal to use as virtual machines

once you connect that oem you need to activate and oem usually will detect that it already was registered with another mainboard and lock the install as illegal

you can use a retail license of xp pro without problems

if you want to reinstall xp and you only have the recovery, better search for the iso to install, if you have xp professional retail the iso can be downloaded form microsoft website legally

if you have xp home you won't find that iso on microsoft page, you will have to hunt it on internet or join microsoft MSDN to gain access to this restricted files

[Rudge]

It's a hard pill to swallow but when you pay for MS software, not only do you not own the software, but there is a really good chance you don't even GET the software.   

[bicol_willem]

It's a hard pill to swallow but when you pay for MS software, not only do you not own the software, but there is a really good chance you don't even GET the software.   

Right and therefore they can KEEP it like I keep my money in the pocket or spend it on better things! 

[kjpetrie]

for the original post, if the license key is for a oem, forget it, it is illegal to install on virtualbox because only retail will be legal to use as virtual machines

This is a grey area, as XP predates virtual machines so there's no specific exclusion against running it that way. I can't see any difference in principle between using dual boot and a virtual machine wrapper as long as it's still on the hardware it was sold for. MS might choose to see it differently because it's a chance to make money, but common sense says he's not trying to use it on a different computer; just use it differently on the same computer. What loss is there to MS in that, especially as they didn't say he couldn't at the time of purchase?

However, whether the VM can be made to look like the hardware enough to allow installation to proceed is the real issue.

WRT activation, my understanding is the hardware information is registered at MS as a hash, so they can't actually tell what combination of MB, disc drives etc produced that hash. The hash can't be changed within four months of a previous activation.

Of course, if installation is successful the dual boot installation should be removed as the licence only allows one copy to be installed.

@bicol_willem,

I think you misinterpreted my post. I wasn't criticising anyone, just trying to stay on the right side of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, as the forum is a US website and we have seen what can happen.

I'm English. We use irony sometimes.

[bicol_willem]

kjpetrie,

Yeah ... I also like Fool's and Horses (marvelous!) 

[pupthai]

In the manual is a way to make a vdi of your xp all ready installed and move it into virtual box.  (or there was - I have not re read it) If it is on the same hardware, you can move it into virtual box but will lose the dual boot.  It has been sometime but I had got that far and on my laptop I stayed with the dual boot.  In fact the install in virtual was working and then they wanted me to make the choice which I would keep and that was a XP home on a compaq laptop. I only have the OEM disk which it would not install from.  I did get a PB version to run in it (just to see it worked installing from an ISO in virtual CD and it did) I am still testing it.   so far it works fine each time I start it, but another few years who knows what might happen.      I keep the home edition in its own partition and others use it when need be.

[GOTHBITES]

Hello

I, myself had the my computer custom built, so I had to buy a retail version of XP pro sp2.  I have installed on my VB with no issues only because my school courses demanded it.  Except I don't update it and it works just fine.  However i am having issues with installing some software like skype, but i can use Silverlight with no issues go figure.

[T6]

i lost this post

if you ask to microsoft about the oem licenses kjpetrie, the answer is clear, i had read enough about it, also spoken with a microsoft representative

only retail versions of xp pro are allowed to be used this way, can't remember about home, no gray area

the thing is that microsoft will eventually forget xp and will focus in windows 7 and 8 next year, for december there should be a new windows 

same as with win 98 or win me