David wrote:
> Daave, to respond to your question: My PC is/was literally an OEM
> build, so no make and model
Sounds custom-built. Whoever built this for you is legally bound to
provide you with the means to reinstall Windows XP (usually by giving
you the correct XP installation CD). I would contact this person pronto.
Otherwise, Paul has a good idea in just obtaining a CD without
purchasing it. Not the easiest thing to do, but it is possible. If you
have a generic OEM version of XP Pro installed on your PC, you may
borrow someone else's CD (but it must match!) and make a copy of it. You
already presumably have a license and key. If you don't have your key
handy, you may run Magical Jellybean Finder or Belarc Advisor to get it.
Then again, for all we know, whoever built this for you did so in a
shady way, using an expired VLK or something along those lines. This is
something to explore.
If you still feel you have to buy a Windows XP Pro installation CD AND
if you know you will never transfer it to another PC AND if you can find
someone reputable to purchase it from AND it's never been used, then an
OEM version will still suffice. Otherwise, Retail would be the way to
go. But, again, you probably don't NEED this CD. :-) (Read on...)
Unless your PC has been compromised, there is really no good reason to
reinstall Windows. We'll be happy to help you solve whatever problem you
are having. Then once your hard drive is exactly as you wish, simply
make an image of it. Keep this image archive handy, and in the event of
a disaster, simply restore the image. That's probably better than having
an XP installation CD anyway. :-)
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