Here's the story... My brother went to Japan sometime ago and bought a laptop
that came with a licensed Japanese Windows XP Home. Now that he has a newer
laptop, I sort of inherited the laptop with the Japanese Windows installed.

Now, here's the question... Can I just borrow a friend's English Windows XP
Home installer and use the product key that came with the Japanese Windows XP
Home?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Nomearod wrote:
> Here's the story... My brother went to Japan sometime ago and
> bought a laptop that came with a licensed Japanese Windows XP Home.
> Now that he has a newer laptop, I sort of inherited the laptop with
> the Japanese Windows installed.
>
> Now, here's the question... Can I just borrow a friend's English
> Windows XP Home installer and use the product key that came with
> the Japanese Windows XP Home?

No.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

>Here's the story... My brother went to Japan sometime ago and bought a laptop
>that came with a licensed Japanese Windows XP Home. Now that he has a newer
>laptop, I sort of inherited the laptop with the Japanese Windows installed.
>
>Now, here's the question... Can I just borrow a friend's English Windows XP
>Home installer and use the product key that came with the Japanese Windows XP
>Home?
>
>Thanks in advance for any replies.

If the machine has a valid license because it was purchased, you could
always give MS a call and explain the situation. It's worth a try.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

"Thee Chicago Wolf" <.@.> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >Here's the story... My brother went to Japan sometime ago and bought a
> >laptop
>>that came with a licensed Japanese Windows XP Home. Now that he has a
>>newer
>>laptop, I sort of inherited the laptop with the Japanese Windows
>>installed.
>>
>>Now, here's the question... Can I just borrow a friend's English Windows
>>XP
>>Home installer and use the product key that came with the Japanese Windows
>>XP
>>Home?
>>
>>Thanks in advance for any replies.
>
> If the machine has a valid license because it was purchased, you could
> always give MS a call and explain the situation. It's worth a try.
>
> - Thee Chicago Wolf

Unless the keys are country coded, I can't see why not.
I doubt MS uses a different authentuication scheme, unless it is some
localised product not available elsewhere.

Nomearod wrote:
> Here's the story... My brother went to Japan sometime ago and bought a laptop
> that came with a licensed Japanese Windows XP Home. Now that he has a newer
> laptop, I sort of inherited the laptop with the Japanese Windows installed.
>
> Now, here's the question... Can I just borrow a friend's English Windows XP
> Home installer and use the product key that came with the Japanese Windows XP
> Home?
>
> Thanks in advance for any replies.


No, it won't work. Product Keys are bound to the specific type and
language of CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with
which they are purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key
won't work for any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of
WinXP Pro, and vice versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with
a full version CD, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to
install a retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an
English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys and CD/license types cannot be
mixed & matched.


--

Bruce Chambers

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