Can Product Key for XP CD be used for XPSP2 CD?

[Guest]

I have two computers. One was installed from an original Full XP Pro CD. It
is currently updated to SP2 and has all the patches etc. I have another
machine, that I recently reloaded with a new Full XP Pro SP2 CD. These are
both full versions, and not upgrades. Both machines now have several large
hard drives (250GB). My worry is that should I need to reload the old
machine someday, if I load using the very old XP CD, those hard drives will
get clobbered due to the 137GB limits. As a precaution, I would probably
disconnect them first. The root drives of both machines are only 120GB mechs.

What I would like to know is if I had to reload the old machine, could I use
my new XP Pro SP2 CD and use the old product activation key? I have read
several posts and websites on slipstreaming an SP2 disc from the XP disc, but
why do all that if I already have an SP2 CD that will do the trick?

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

I have two computers. One was installed from an original Full XP Pro
CD.

Retail version or OEM/DSP/SB version?

What I would like to know is if I had to reload the old machine, could
I use my new XP Pro SP2 CD and use the old product activation key?

That depends. Most likely yes, if both CDs are 'Retail' and having the
same language version.

 

[Guest]

Both are legit full retail versions. The original XP was bought a week after
it came on the market, years ago. The XP SP2 was bought last week.
A while back I had something wrong (can't actually remember what) on the
older computer and ran setup or repair or something from that original XP CD.
Windows decided it needed to 'fix' my 250GB disc. The operating system
problem was gone, but so was the data on the large drive...ouch... After
re-updateing, the system could see that it was truely 250GB and not 137GB.
Reformatted and reloaded the data...

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Both are legit full retail versions.

Okay. OEM/DSP/SB CDs are often called "Full version", too
(marketing) although they aren't (they usually lack of any
upgrade function). Since both CDs are *Retail* versions,
there shouldn't be a problem when mixing the product keys.

 

[Lil' Dave]

I have two computers. One was installed from an original Full XP Pro CD. It
is currently updated to SP2 and has all the patches etc. I have another
machine, that I recently reloaded with a new Full XP Pro SP2 CD. These are
both full versions, and not upgrades. Both machines now have several large
hard drives (250GB). My worry is that should I need to reload the old
machine someday, if I load using the very old XP CD, those hard drives will
get clobbered due to the 137GB limits. As a precaution, I would probably
disconnect them first. The root drives of both machines are only 120GB mechs.

What I would like to know is if I had to reload the old machine, could I use
my new XP Pro SP2 CD and use the old product activation key? I have read
several posts and websites on slipstreaming an SP2 disc from the XP disc, but
why do all that if I already have an SP2 CD that will do the trick?

Slipstreaming SP2 CD w/the original XP install CD creates a new CD with the
SP2 updates in the install on your PC at the outset. This eliminates your
worry of the 250GB capacity size if loading with the original version of XP.
Use the resulting CD of slipstreaming to install XP again.

You cannot install XP itself with the SP2 install CD, only the Service Pack.
Windows must be already installed.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

You cannot install XP itself with the SP2 install CD, only the
Service Pack. Windows must be already installed.

The OP has two "full retail versions" (WinXP Pro RTM + WinXP Pro SP2),
they can be used for clean installation as well. See also
http://www.microsoft.com/products/i...ovr&pcid=2abf99cd-a5e4-469c-802e-55ca8ec542d5

 

[Lars-Erik Østerud]

Lil' Dave skrev:

Slipstreaming SP2 CD w/the original XP install CD creates a new CD with the
SP2 updates in the install on your PC at the outset. This eliminates your

But this doesn't work with corporate CDs (Select CDs). I tried making
on of those slipsstreamed at work, and it charashes during install :-(

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Slipstreaming is supposed to work with any version. If you have problems
with slipstreaming, look at 'Autostreamer' so as to help you with this.

 

[R. McCarty]

I've tried AutoStreamer on a VLK and it did not work. However, if I
went through the manual steps here:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm
I did get a usable XP, SP2 disk.
Can't say why it didn't work with AutoStreamer, but I just use the
manual process. Once you build the tree structure it's not that hard
to re-use it for other install types.

 

[Guest]

Thanks guys for all the tips. I may try slipstreaming an install CD just for
fun, but really won't have an oppertunity to fully test it. If I get into a
reload situation, I probably will try first the actual full retail XP Pro
with SP2 CD and use the original code from the old full retail XP Pro CD,
then if that doesn't work, try the slipped disc, and if all else fails, use
the original full retail XP Pro CD and update for a while... I have also
decided that in all cases, I will physically disconnect the large share
drives. We are talking about Microsoft after all...

 

[mcp6453]

Thanks guys for all the tips. I may try slipstreaming an install CD just for
fun, but really won't have an oppertunity to fully test it. If I get into a
reload situation, I probably will try first the actual full retail XP Pro
with SP2 CD and use the original code from the old full retail XP Pro CD,
then if that doesn't work, try the slipped disc, and if all else fails, use
the original full retail XP Pro CD and update for a while... I have also
decided that in all cases, I will physically disconnect the large share
drives. We are talking about Microsoft after all...

:

I just did a Slipstream of a corporate XP disk using AutoStreamer. What
I found (and it is a documented problem) is that Windows 2000 has a
problem slipstreaming XP SP2. Try doing so on an XP SP2 box. It worked
like a charm for me.

 

[Lil' Dave]

The activation key is the same as the original XP install CD used to source
during the slipstream.
Works with retail and buy with hardware OEM XP install CDs. Not sure about
the retail upgrade version, don't see why not though. Am using autostreamer
for reference.

Thanks guys for all the tips. I may try slipstreaming an install CD just for
fun, but really won't have an oppertunity to fully test it. If I get into a
reload situation, I probably will try first the actual full retail XP Pro
with SP2 CD and use the original code from the old full retail XP Pro CD,
then if that doesn't work, try the slipped disc, and if all else fails, use
the original full retail XP Pro CD and update for a while... I have also
decided that in all cases, I will physically disconnect the large share
drives. We are talking about Microsoft after all...