does the windows KEY have to match the CD?

[jim]

Hello....

I got a computer from a friend and she wants me to fix it.. however windows
has too many problems and I will have to format..

so here is the question.. she does not have her windows cd (because she
bought this computer USED with windows preinstalled).. but I was able to
find her windows KEY using a program.. so I have the key for her
installation...

can I use ANOTHER xp cd to reinstall, and use HER key so she will be able to
active or not?

Or is each CD tied to the windows KEY?

I believe this must not be tied, because I have heard that MS sends you
replacment cds, if your cd is misplaced or destroyed..

thanks in advance

 

[Gordon]

Hello....

I got a computer from a friend and she wants me to fix it.. however
windows has too many problems and I will have to format..

so here is the question.. she does not have her windows cd (because she
bought this computer USED with windows preinstalled).. but I was able to
find her windows KEY using a program.. so I have the key for her
installation...

can I use ANOTHER xp cd to reinstall, and use HER key so she will be able
to active or not?

Yes as long as the CD is of the same type, i.e. OEM or Retail

 

[bud]

Hello....

I got a computer from a friend and she wants me to fix it.. however
windows has too many problems and I will have to format..

so here is the question.. she does not have her windows cd (because she
bought this computer USED with windows preinstalled).. but I was able to
find her windows KEY using a program.. so I have the key for her
installation...

can I use ANOTHER xp cd to reinstall, and use HER key so she will be able
to active or not?

Or is each CD tied to the windows KEY?

I believe this must not be tied, because I have heard that MS sends you
replacment cds, if your cd is misplaced or destroyed..

thanks in advance

Doesn't have to match the cd you might have for that computer but it does
have to match the version of the CD, be it OEM, upgrade, full version, XP
home or XP pro. If the computer was loaded originally with OEM xp from the
computer manufacturer then the key would only work with that specific
installation and would not work with any retail disk.

 

[AJR]

The product key is "specific" to a XP CD and may apply to only one
installation or, as in volume licensing, to several installations.

 

[Gordon]

The product key is "specific" to a XP CD and may apply to only one
installation or, as in volume licensing, to several installations.

Not quite true. The product key is specific to a TYPE of CD. In other words,
I can borrow my mate's XP Pro Retail CD and use MY key to do a re-install
because my key is an XP Pro Retail key...if my mate's CD was an XP Home
Retail, I couldn't.

 

[Rock]

Hello....

I got a computer from a friend and she wants me to fix it.. however
windows has too many problems and I will have to format..

so here is the question.. she does not have her windows cd (because she
bought this computer USED with windows preinstalled).. but I was able to
find her windows KEY using a program.. so I have the key for her
installation...

can I use ANOTHER xp cd to reinstall, and use HER key so she will be able
to active or not?

Or is each CD tied to the windows KEY?

I believe this must not be tied, because I have heard that MS sends you
replacment cds, if your cd is misplaced or destroyed..

thanks in advance

The license key and CD type have to match. Within that match any CD of that
type will work.

Home v. Pro
Retail v. Upgrade v. Generic OEM v. Branded OEM v. Volume license version
Language version

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Hello....

I got a computer from a friend and she wants me to fix it.. however windows
has too many problems and I will have to format..

so here is the question.. she does not have her windows cd (because she
bought this computer USED with windows preinstalled).. but I was able to
find her windows KEY using a program.. so I have the key for her
installation...

can I use ANOTHER xp cd to reinstall, and use HER key so she will be able to
active or not?

Or is each CD tied to the windows KEY?

I believe this must not be tied, because I have heard that MS sends you
replacment cds, if your cd is misplaced or destroyed..

thanks in advance

Keys are only tied to the type of license, not the CD's themselves.

The types are:

Full
Upgrade
OEM

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hello....

I got a computer from a friend and she wants me to fix it.. however windows
has too many problems and I will have to format..

so here is the question.. she does not have her windows cd (because she
bought this computer USED with windows preinstalled).. but I was able to
find her windows KEY using a program.. so I have the key for her
installation...

can I use ANOTHER xp cd to reinstall, and use HER key so she will be able to
active or not?

Or is each CD tied to the windows KEY?

I believe this must not be tied, because I have heard that MS sends you
replacment cds, if your cd is misplaced or destroyed..

thanks in advance

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 types cannot be mixed & matched.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[jim]

Hello Bruce, is there a way to find out what type of XP the computer has
before I format it?
I know its XP pro english... but how can I know if its OEM, Upgrade, or
Retail?

Is there some sort of tool diagnostic that can detect this?

 

[jim]

Hello
, is there a way to find out what type of XP the computer has before I
format it?
I know its XP pro english... but how can I know if its OEM, Upgrade, or
Retail?

Is there some sort of tool diagnostic that can detect this?

 

[jim]

Hello
, is there a way to find out what type of XP the computer has before I
format it?
I know its XP pro english... but how can I know if its OEM, Upgrade, or
Retail?

Is there some sort of tool diagnostic that can detect this?

 

[jim]

Hello , is there a way to find out what type of XP the computer has before I
format it?
I know its XP pro english... but how can I know if its OEM, Upgrade, or
Retail?

Is there some sort of tool diagnostic that can detect this?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hello Bruce, is there a way to find out what type of XP the computer has
before I format it?
I know its XP pro english... but how can I know if its OEM, Upgrade, or
Retail?

Is there some sort of tool diagnostic that can detect this?

If it's an OEM license, the Product ID (right-click My Computer >
Properties > General Tab) will contain the letters "OEM." I don't know
of any easy way to distinguish a full retail version from an upgrade
retail license.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[wayne.longman]

BTW, are you sure it came with a CD? My 2 yr old Sony VAIO desktop
doesn't have one. I had to make back-up CD's to get to it. Just did
that a few months ago, and had to reformat 3 weeks later. Would have
up the creek.