Clean install XP sp3

[atifsh]

ur cd has a file named winnt.sif, that has a cdkey init. now that cdkey is for dell thats why ur not having problems for activation and geniuine thing on dell system.

[dr_ml422]

I haven't checked that winnt.sif file but I'll take your word on it. It wouldn't install w/out inserting those files from the original oem into the sp3 i386 folder. Went like 3 times till the end w/the same and/or different error. Now as far as a generic disc I would think it would go through on a different system but ask you for your key. Maybe not. The inclusion of those folders was what made the difference with my pc. b4 that it would say dell doesn't recognize, blah, blah, etc...

When it installs it actually tells you all about xp pro. My thought on update rollup 2 is that unless you're big on using all of media centers features you don't need it. Reason I got it was I didn't know a thing about computers when I ordered from dell and told them I was mostly interested in video work. hence all that roxio, sonic, nonsense they put into my system. Knowing what I do now I wouldn't even have given it a thought. Not bad for a pre-build. It is what it is.