Reinstalling Windows from a Genuine Advantage Kit?

[Sami]

My computer was supplied with a dodgy version of XP on it, when the genuine
advantage thing came up I purchased a legit version of XP Pro via the website.

I now would like to reinstall my installation from fresh, I have borrow the
XP Pro CD from my friends PC but it dosen't accept my key.

How can I reinstall?

 

[Ron Badour]

Since you bought a legit version, why are you having to borrow your friend's
CD? You probably have a key for a retail version and the CD is an OEM
version, or possibly vice versa.

 

[Alex T. MVP]

The person above is right. The serial you have is for a Retail disc while
you have a OEM disc. For the difference between them see:

http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f9/differences-between-oem-retail-171393/#post1349335

That will explain it more. You will have to obtain a CD of XP Pro retail.

 

[Sami]

Ah ok, I'm not sure whether or not the CD is OEM or not, i'll have a look.
Out of interest, is it possible to tell which version is required based on
the key?

Is it possible, by any chance, to download a CD from MS? I presume you can
pay to have one posted, but I'd be happier with a (free!) download than a
torrent.

Ron Badour > When I bought it online I only got a key - and not a CD in the
post

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The WGA kit is downloadable software, not a cd image. It will fix your
ungenuine Windows but does include a genuine cd. However, the user can
order a cd at the time he buys the kit.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

No. The key does not help you identify the edition. OEM keys ten years ago
had "OEM" in the key itself but that practice ended. Did you not order a cd
on the site where you purchased the WGA kit? If you choose the download
version you still should be receiving a new cd by mail.

 

[Sami]

No I didn't recieve a CD, and it was months ago that I bought it.

I have a retail CD here but it's not accepting the key, might it be worth
installing a dodgy copy and then using 'change product key' as I had to when
I purchased it originally?

Sami

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

No, I would follow up with MS to see if you can get the right cd. By the
way, if you know someone who is using the same edition of Windows that your
key is for you can simply make a copy of his cd and use that.