Can I use: a Dell CD that says Reinstallation CD, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 2? Can I use this on my Macbook?

No. That is a branded version of Windows containing only the components required for, in this case Dell.

You need a legal full retail version of Windows.

Where did you order it from? The packing slip sounds like the right version but your original post said you got a Dell CD. If you already opened it try to install it in Parallels. Maybe the cd is mislabeled, but I doubt it.

pitterpatter94 wrote:

I have installed Parallels and now want Windows XP, Home Edition. I ordered it online and today received this:

Dell CD, that says: Reinstallation CD, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 2

Can I use this on my Macbook?

What is "online"? You must have bought that from Craigslist, eBay, or something similar.

No only is it not legal for you to use that on your MacBook, it probably won't even work. What you bought is a useless piece of plastic. The license for that software has already been used by someone else. If you were to try to install with it, your installation will fail when you try to activate.

The only legal source for true OEM versions of Windows is NewEgg. Unfortunately, because OEM is a legitimate retailer, they no longer sell Windows XP. You will have to buy Windows 7, which is about twice as slow under Parallels as XP. It takes twice the RAM too, so you may want to buy some more RAM from OWC. Maybe try to call NewEgg and see if they have any copies of XP "in the back".

I have never heard of this but from the site page: http://www.tveak.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=559_568&products_id= 80237&zenid=6e0f5f72e00905cc5885a04272058b77

"A genuine COA, genuine software cd with Dell brand logo and Product Key for activation. Although this product has the Dell brand on the CD, the software installs as a full version on any system and will activate with Microsoft. This is a Full OEM Version for a clean installation. This is the full product and will load on computers that do not currently have Windows. Or, if the computer already has Windows, this version will install over your previous version and delete all files to become a brand new clean version. This product includes the Microsoft CD and Activation Product Key with COA. Boxes and manuals are not included. The manual is on the genuine disk."

I would either send it back for a refund or give it a try.

I have never heard of TVEAK. I know that selling a Dell-branded OEM disk is not legal.

Have you tried MacOS X embroidery software like: http://www.macemb.com

There some software in the Mac App Store too, but it is pretty expensive.

pitterpatter94 wrote:

Hi,

I am a week old mac person. And I am setting it up for my needs.

I have installed Parallels and now want Windows XP, Home Edition. I ordered it online and today received this:

Dell CD, that says: Reinstallation CD, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 2

Can I use this on my Macbook?

Thanks

Kim

"Reinstallation CD" may be the tipoff that suggests it was originally intended for inclusion with a Dell PC in case the owner needed to start over with a really corrupted HD. But how could the Product Key work for you? I found the following on an Anandtech forum:

"3) You've used a COA key that's never actually been activated by the real owner (i.e. Dell BIOS-locked OEM XP owners NEVER have to activate, so their key never gets used)."

The full thread is here: http://forums.anandtech.com/archive/index.php/t-1829615.html. The thread is old but so is XP.

There may be a solution to your need for XP, though it's not as cheap as you would like. Windows 7 Pro supports something called "XPMode" which is XP Pro running in Virtual PC inside of Windows 7 Pro and the XPMode software is free with Win 7 Pro. If you have an i7 in your MacBook Pro and enough RAM, the performance can be quite surprising. I know it works in VMware Fusion but it ought to work in Parallels too.

The issue is that Dell negotiatd a volume license agreement for a really low price because Dell buys an awful lot of Windows licenses. When you buy something from a grey market like that, there is a strong chance that the software has already been activated by someone else and you have just lost your money. You can still by legitimate OEM software from System Builder companies like NewEgg.

In all cases, a true Mac program is going to be much easier to run.

pitterpatter94 wrote:

...I really hate putting anything outdated on the beautiful piece of equipment (My Macbook 🙂).

I did not know about the Windows 7 Pro with the "XP Mode". I want that, but it is another $270. so I will wait on this...

XP may be old but a remarkable number of PC's still use it. And when Windows 8 becomes all there is, I bet a lot more people will miss it.

XP Mode is cool in that it's essentially a virtual machine running inside another virtual machine (Win 7 Pro). But a few things are necessary to make it useable. First, the virtualizing engine (e.g., VMware Fusion or Parallels) must fully support nested VM's. Second the CPU must support letting the inner VM talk directly to the processor so that it can run at just about the full speed of the CPU (the i7 does, as does the Westmere in some Mac Pro's-there may be others). Third, the Mac must have enough RAM to support the nesting, Fusion or Parallels, and the Mac itself, all doing their things at once.

FatMac\>MacPro wrote:

XP Mode is cool in that it's essentially a virtual machine running inside another virtual machine (Win 7 Pro). But a few things are necessary to make it useable. First, the virtualizing engine (e.g., VMware Fusion or Parallels) must fully support nested VM's. Second the CPU must support letting the inner VM talk directly to the processor so that it can run at just about the full speed of the CPU (the i7 does, as does the Westmere in some Mac Pro's-there may be others). Third, the Mac must have enough RAM to support the nesting, Fusion or Parallels, and the Mac itself, all doing their things at once.

Ugh! What a mess! I have not updated to Parallels 8. I am hoping to be able to abandon Windows altogether next year.