Computer question please......

[Art708]

 I have a PC with 2 hot swap bays. I have a Win 8.1 SSD in the main and and old SATA with a lot of files in the other.  I want to install Win XP so I can play some old games (ex. Diablo I, II) If I  understand correctly XP won't support SATA without a bunch of working around. I can buy a SATA hd on Amazon from Dell with XP installed. The ad says that the customer is responsible for providing a product Key...which I have from an old XP install disk. Can I buy this from Amazon, install it with a product key and set it to boot up in one of my bays?

[Alberta Patriot]

XP is DOA with no security updates or secure browser that will run on it....no problem if you keep it unplugged from the internet.
Gaming is light years beyond what was available when XP was the operating system of the day.

[Pete]

There is no guarantee that your key will work, it may it may not, And you may have to get another key or 2.

Here is some info that may help using your CD.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Install-Windows-XP-On-SATA-Without-a-Floppy-F6-47807.shtml

[Robert]

From what I know you can not hot swap a computer running Windows 8.1 with Xp. Hot swap refers to using another drive almost a clone with the same OP system on it and switching computers. The other configuration is using a hard drive as a storage like a flash drive making it removable but with the same OS. Also XP does use SATA drives I have one at work. Drivers may be a problem as they are no longer readily available. Also with the proper virus software and setup there should be no problems with viruses. There are other options for the price you are buying the drive you could buy the whole computer used with XP on it and a license already on it or buy a used computer and put the drive in it. The XP's are around still but you have to look for them. I would say maybe the best choice is you get a Windows 7 used computer and run that in compatibility mode for XP and not have a problem running your programs or finding drivers. There are many articles on the net to show you how.

[Pete]

A cleaner solution may be to install Virtual Machine software, then you can run either/or both Win 8.1 and Win XP and others under the Virtual Machine software.

Search the web for Windows Virtual Machine or Windows VM.

[Art708]

  Thanks for the replies guys... appreciate it.

[Dorkman]

I believe Windows 8.1 has a compatibility mode for running old programs.  Search in help and it should give you a clue.  Haven't used it (I went from Windows 7 to 10), but I believe you install the old program, then right click on properties and select compatibility mode if it doesn't fire off correctly.  Give search a try and go for it.