Has my Windows XP sticker been damaged or tampered with?

[cotswoldcs]

I've recently purchased an OEM version of Windows XP Home from Scan. I noticed two holes in the sticker - is this normal or not???

You can see a photo of it here

I've edited the product key so that no-one can see it.

[dave87]

Yup, thats a bit that stops it being removed from a case - kinda tamper evident. That's how mine arrived iirc, so not a problem

[Azza]

Thats what mine is like.

You dont seem to have a product key so that may be a problem.

[cotswoldcs]

Thanks for your quick response guys. Windows is out of the packet and installing on a new machine

I think it will take a little while to format this 750Gb HDD!!!

Thanks again - I love Hexus for things just like this.

[GoNz0]

quick format FTW

[cotswoldcs]

Would a quick format work with a brand new hard disk? I always prefer a full format but would be interested if a quick format would do a good enough job.

[Tak]

From http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302686 :

When you choose to run a regular format on a volume, files are removed from the volume that you are formatting and the hard disk is scanned for bad sectors. The scan for bad sectors is responsible for the majority of the time that it takes to format a volume.

If you choose the Quick format option, format removes files from the partition, but does not scan the disk for bad sectors. Only use this option if your hard disk has been previously formatted and you are sure that your hard disk is not damaged.

[funnelhead]

Ya the new XP stickers look like the work of a child.... i believe the thinking for the holes is :

1 so you can see the silver strip

2. so you can see the inner fiber of the sticker - they are meant to be papery NOT solid plastic.

of course most people wont know this and wont care!

[GoNz0]

From http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302686 :

kinda explains why myraid array crapped out and maxblast had to void a few bad sectors then !