Reinstall LEGAL Win XP, but no disk

I need to reinstall Windows Xp Home on my Dell computer, but for the life of
me I can't find the disk.

I have heard that I can use any XP disk, so long as I use the registration
information that is on the sticker on the side of my computer.

Is this true? If so, does it have to be an XP Home disk or can it be any XP
Disk?

And will it hurt anything if I don't load all the extra Dell junk?

Thanks!

Not quite true, you need to use an OEM disk, not a retail or upgrade, in it
needs to be of the version you have, either home or pro, and you may have to
call to get it activated.

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"jckelley" <jckelley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:891D818D-64DF-4D51-980E-55C77DA55EA9@microsoft.com...
>I need to reinstall Windows Xp Home on my Dell computer, but for the life
>of
> me I can't find the disk.
>
> I have heard that I can use any XP disk, so long as I use the registration
> information that is on the sticker on the side of my computer.
>
> Is this true? If so, does it have to be an XP Home disk or can it be any
> XP
> Disk?
>
> And will it hurt anything if I don't load all the extra Dell junk?
>
> Thanks!

Best bet-----call Dell. They may have recovery procedure for you at a cost
of course.
"jckelley" <jckelley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:891D818D-64DF-4D51-980E-55C77DA55EA9@microsoft.com...
>I need to reinstall Windows Xp Home on my Dell computer, but for the life
>of
> me I can't find the disk.
>
> I have heard that I can use any XP disk, so long as I use the registration
> information that is on the sticker on the side of my computer.
>
> Is this true? If so, does it have to be an XP Home disk or can it be any
> XP
> Disk?
>
> And will it hurt anything if I don't load all the extra Dell junk?
>
> Thanks!

"jckelley" <jckelley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:891D818D-64DF-4D51-980E-55C77DA55EA9@microsoft.com...

>I need to reinstall Windows Xp Home on my Dell computer, but for the life
>of
> me I can't find the disk.
>
> I have heard that I can use any XP disk, so long as I use the registration
> information that is on the sticker on the side of my computer.
>
> Is this true?


No, it's not.

> If so, does it have to be an XP Home disk or can it be any XP
> Disk?


There may be other CDs you can use with your code. They must be XP Home and
they must be OEM versions. And they may be BIOS-locked DVDs from other
manufacturers computers.

But what you should do is contact Dell for installation instructions and
help. They can tell you what to do.

One more point: You say "I need to reinstall Windows Xp Home," but you don't
say why. How do you know?. It's very rare that anyone needs to do this. Tell
us what your problems are. It's likely that someone here can help you and
reinjstalling won't be required.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
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