Are Windows 7 32bit and 64 bit serials the same? [more inside]
posted by n3rt on Oct 29, 2009 - 9 answers

Is there a way to push the installation of browser plug-ins on a network where users don't have workstation admin rights (windows network)? [more inside]
posted by orville sash on Apr 3, 2009 - 7 answers

Can anyone help me install Dirext X on my Windows PC laptop? [more inside]
posted by fantasticninety on Jan 22, 2009 - 9 answers

How can I create a Windows install image (ISO) from an already installed XP installation? [more inside]
posted by mcarthey on Aug 20, 2008 - 2 answers

How do I do Windows in Chinese? I don't have the original Windows XP discs, and when I try to install the Chinese characters add-on from MSFT -- the laptop says I need the original XP discs.. do I really need them? [more inside]
posted by mhh5 on Aug 6, 2008 - 8 answers

Can I upgrade my motherboard and CPU without reinstalling Vista? [more inside]
posted by adi on Mar 3, 2008 - 6 answers

I reinstalled Windows XP on a Dell machine running Ubuntu and it won't run above 640 by 480 resolution and 4 bits. It's an 80gb hard drive with 2gb of RAM, and there is nothing I can think of that would cripple the system like this. Any idea how to get the system running like it should be? [more inside]
posted by andoatnp on Feb 12, 2008 - 15 answers

Has anyone tried installing Windows Vista in BootCamp (On a Mac) using an upgrade disk? I've installed Vista perfectly using this guide on a computer I built myself, but I want to do it on a new Mac. [more inside]
posted by Aanidaani on Dec 18, 2007 - 2 answers

I want to upgrade to Windows Vista, although I've got a few important questions I can't seem to find answers to... [more inside]
posted by PetiePal on Jun 11, 2007 - 3 answers

How do I track all of the installed files when I install new software in Windows? [more inside]
posted by nightengine on Feb 13, 2007 - 10 answers

I never restart the computer when I install things on Windows XP. I go weeks without rebooting, installing multiple programs. I've never had a problem. Two questions: 1) Why do so many programs require this? and 2) What's the potential for harm from ignoring their suggestion?
posted by pornucopia on Apr 19, 2006 - 9 answers

I have to, starting very early in the morning, and well before Friday, install Windows XP, Office 2003, and a number of small insurance applications on 9 different minitowers that are coming in. Assuming they are all exactly the same build, and hopefully, without spending any more money, what would be the quickest and most efficient way to do this? [more inside]
posted by thanotopsis on Mar 28, 2006 - 17 answers

A question about the legality/kosherness of re-installing Windows XP on a machine that has a legit product number. More inside. [more inside]
posted by deadcowdan on Oct 7, 2005 - 6 answers

Anybody know of a good Windows utility for monitoring the activities of program installation software? Most importantly what gets written to disk (file writes and registry entries), but a log of the installation program's net activity would be a bonus. [more inside]
posted by iconjack on Jul 19, 2005 - 8 answers

Stupid annoying WinXP question. I installed an older program I use for data analysis in my lab. Every time I click the start menu it shows up as a newly installed program, despite the fact that I've used it quite a bit. I want it to go away and show up as an old program, not highlighted like a new one. The only help I can find using my formidable Google-Fu is "Turn off new program notification". Well, I don't want to do that; I like to know if something new has been added to my machine. Anyone know how XP marks programs as newly installed, or highlighted, and how to turn this off on an individual entry basis rather than across the board?
posted by caution live frogs on Aug 31, 2004 - 3 answers

I just did a full WinXP reinstall. In the process, I took an 80 gig drive which was partitioned to 10/30/40 gig partitions and repartitioned it to 10/10/20/15/25 partitions. Unfortunately, that 40 gig partition held my "My Documents" holding a bunch of Word documents spanning the years and a lot of digital photos that are irreplaceable.

I've tried a few file recovery programs with limited success (recovered around 20% of my files) however I think the problem is the repartitions have split a lot of the files across two or more partitions. Is there a way I can recombine these partitions and try the file recovery programs again??
posted by PWA_BadBoy on Apr 21, 2004 - 3 answers

I'm getting a new computer in a few weeks, but I have a TV capture card I want to transfer from my old machine into the new one. Since it's going to be an XP machine, in light of the weird "hardware configuration" key they built into the software, should I install the capture card before I boot the machine for the first time, or should I wait until afterwards? On the one hand, I'd like to make sure the machine works as is before I crack it open, but on the other hand, I would not like to spend a bunch of time on hold with Microsoft to get the damned OS unlocked. How touchy is the XP hardware configuration key? (I know, I know, buy a Mac...)
posted by headspace on Mar 2, 2004 - 3 answers