Reloading XP Home

[Steve Moore]

My sister-in-law has a hand me down Dell Dimension 8200 with XP Home on it,
however the original Dell recovery disk is lost. However, I do know the 25
character alphanumeric XP activation key. Due to the flakeyness of its
operation, I'd like to reload XP fresh on this system.

Can I use another XP Home installation disk (mine for another compute) and
simply enter the original activation/security key for the Dimension 8200?
If not, what other recourse do I have short of purchasing a new install?

Thanks,
Steve Moore
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

No. The Product Key affixed to the Dell computer
is only valid when using a Dell Windows XP
Reinstallation CD. Contact Dell support and
order a CD replacement.

Welcome to Dell Support!
http://support.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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:

| My sister-in-law has a hand me down Dell Dimension 8200 with XP Home on it,
| however the original Dell recovery disk is lost. However, I do know the 25
| character alphanumeric XP activation key. Due to the flakeyness of its
| operation, I'd like to reload XP fresh on this system.
|
| Can I use another XP Home installation disk (mine for another compute) and
| simply enter the original activation/security key for the Dimension 8200?
| If not, what other recourse do I have short of purchasing a new install?
|
| Thanks,
| Steve Moore

 

[Malke]

My sister-in-law has a hand me down Dell Dimension 8200 with XP Home
on it,
however the original Dell recovery disk is lost. However, I do know
the 25
character alphanumeric XP activation key. Due to the flakeyness of
its operation, I'd like to reload XP fresh on this system.

Can I use another XP Home installation disk (mine for another compute)
and simply enter the original activation/security key for the
Dimension 8200? If not, what other recourse do I have short of
purchasing a new install?

You will need to use an XP Home OEM disk in order to use the Product Key
on the sticker. If you don't have one (if yours is Retail for
instance), you can try and get a replacement from Dell for hopefully
not as much as a Retail copy of XP Home. (I don't know if you will be
successful at this but it can't hurt to try.) Otherwise, you'll need to
buy a Retail copy of XP Home and use the product key that comes with
it. Get all drivers from Dell's website for that specific model
Dimension if the Dell Resources CD is also missing.

Malke

 

[Squire]

Try to get a replacement disk from Dell.
Other wise you have to purchase a new one.