[Lee]

I was given an old computer by my work (Optima Pentium 4), with XP Pro apparently installed.
This would not boot - some config file missing or something.....
So I got some discs from there (all OEM from other brands) and naively tried to reinstall - the first one died, after I allowed it to delete the original partition - handy that.
The others won't proceed without product keys. Which I don't have. My partner has an old compaq laptop with discs etc, but they succumb to a fatal error on installing also.

So.... Can someone explain to this vehement mac zealot (even moreso now) how I can turn this small metallic box into a useful computer now. Can I buy a copy of XP somewhere? Will it be restricted to a certain brand of machine? Is it possible to get copies second hand??

I only want this so I can leave the machine in the obs, and drive my DSI, that's all.... maybe I should just use my macbook and nebulosity.... sounds much less stressful.....