reinstall XP Pro questions

[Vic]

Just bought an IBM laptop with XP2 Pro preinstalled. No disks (CD's)
came as the OS is preinstalled on the HD. I'd like to wipe the HD and
setup with a dual boot system (Win98SE & XP). Being there is no
installation CD I'm wondering how to proceed. The laptop has a COA with
product key on the bottom. The OS does not prompt me as if it was not
registered (in fact if I recall it is registered to USER), so ...

Can I use my XP1 Pro CD (from another PC in the house) and install to
the laptop and use the laptop product key then re-register
(re-activate)?

If that will not work, would I have to somehow make an install CD from
the existing laptop setup?

Should I save any activation file(s) before formatting the HD?

Have any questions NOT been asked which should have <g>?

Many thanks

Vic

 

[Guest]

Without the original install cd, your stuck.
You can't use a cd from another pc as the license states one license one pc.
best to purchase a new copy of XP, the issue also rises, regarding hardware
drivers, before you wipe it, make darned sure you have all the drivers
necessary for all the hardware.

 

[Rock]

Just bought an IBM laptop with XP2 Pro preinstalled. No disks (CD's) came
as the OS is preinstalled on the HD. I'd like to wipe the HD and setup
with a dual boot system (Win98SE & XP). Being there is no installation CD
I'm wondering how to proceed. The laptop has a COA with product key on the
bottom. The OS does not prompt me as if it was not registered (in fact if
I recall it is registered to USER), so ...

Can I use my XP1 Pro CD (from another PC in the house) and install to the
laptop and use the laptop product key then re-register (re-activate)?

If that will not work, would I have to somehow make an install CD from the
existing laptop setup?

Should I save any activation file(s) before formatting the HD?

Have any questions NOT been asked which should have <g>?

You can try the other XP CD, but the license key probably won't work with it
unless it's a generic XP OEM CD. It should work with a generic XP CD so if
you know someone that has one, borrow it.

 

[Rock]

Without the original install cd, your stuck.
You can't use a cd from another pc as the license states one license one
pc.
best to purchase a new copy of XP, the issue also rises, regarding
hardware
drivers, before you wipe it, make darned sure you have all the drivers
necessary for all the hardware.

Using a an XP CD from a different PC is not, in and of itself, a problem.
It's the product key that constitutes the license. There is nothing unique
about XP CD's of the same type. For example any generic OEM XP Pro CD can
be used with any generic OEM XP Pro product key.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Just bought an IBM laptop with XP2 Pro preinstalled. No disks (CD's)
came as the OS is preinstalled on the HD. I'd like to wipe the HD and
setup with a dual boot system (Win98SE & XP). Being there is no
installation CD I'm wondering how to proceed.

You can't proceed until you obtain a WinXP installation CD.

The laptop has a COA with
product key on the bottom. The OS does not prompt me as if it was not
registered (in fact if I recall it is registered to USER), so ...

Can I use my XP1 Pro CD (from another PC in the house) and install to
the laptop and use the laptop product key then re-register
(re-activate)?

It would work if that other WinXP Pro CD is an unbranded, generic OEM
CD. It won't work if it's a branded CD from another OEM manufacturer,
or if it's a retail CD. 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.

If that will not work, would I have to somehow make an install CD from
the existing laptop setup?

Possibly. Contact the manufacturer for specific instructions on how to
do so.

Should I save any activation file(s) before formatting the HD?

No, there'd be no point in doing that.

Have any questions NOT been asked which should have <g>?

Almost certainly, but who knows for sure? For example, if you do
manage to get your hands on an unbranded, generic OEM CD, make sure that
you can download (and burn to CD) all of the necessary device drivers
for the laptop's hardware components before starting.


--

Bruce Chambers

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