How to tell which install disk to use with legal product key on old computer

[Gary]

I have an old computer with a legal license sticker, but can't find the
original reinstall disk.
I have an XP Home install disk that came with a different computer.
How do I tell if it will work to reinstall the OS on the the old computer?

 

[Gordon]

I have an old computer with a legal license sticker, but can't find the
original reinstall disk.
I have an XP Home install disk that came with a different computer.
How do I tell if it will work to reinstall the OS on the the old computer?

As long as it's the same type that the Product key is for then yes it will
work. I.e. if the product key is for an OEM version of XP Home and the CD is
OEM Home, then it will work.

 

[Bob I]

Provided that it is a generic OEM and not an preconfigured vendor
install disk.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have an old computer with a legal license sticker, but can't find the
original reinstall disk.
I have an XP Home install disk that came with a different computer.
How do I tell if it will work to reinstall the OS on the the old computer?

If it came with a computer, it's an OEM version, and many OEM versions
are BIOS-locked to the computer they came with. If that's the case, it
will not work on the other computer.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Provided that it is a generic OEM and not an preconfigured vendor
install disk.

And provided that it's not BIOS-locked to the computer it came with.

 

[Bob I]

Then it wouldn't be "generic". ;-)

And provided that it's not BIOS-locked to the computer it came with.

 

[Stefan Patric]

I have an old computer with a legal license sticker, but can't find the
original reinstall disk.
I have an XP Home install disk that came with a different computer. How
do I tell if it will work to reinstall the OS on the the old computer?

Simple. Attempt the install. But clone your old OS just in case it
doesn't work.


Stef

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Then it wouldn't be "generic". ;-)

Yes, that's certainly true. But if it "came with a different
computer," it almost certainly wasn't generic.