Can I Use a Japanese WinXP Home Product Key for an English Install

G

Guest

Here's the story... My brother went to Japan sometime ago and bought a laptop
that came with a licensed Japanese Windows XP Home. Now that he has a newer
laptop, I sort of inherited the laptop with the Japanese Windows installed.

Now, here's the question... Can I just borrow a friend's English Windows XP
Home installer and use the product key that came with the Japanese Windows XP
Home?

Thanks in advance for any replies.
 
S

Shenan Stanley

Nomearod said:
Here's the story... My brother went to Japan sometime ago and
bought a laptop that came with a licensed Japanese Windows XP Home.
Now that he has a newer laptop, I sort of inherited the laptop with
the Japanese Windows installed.

Now, here's the question... Can I just borrow a friend's English
Windows XP Home installer and use the product key that came with
the Japanese Windows XP Home?

No.
 
T

Thee Chicago Wolf

Here's the story... My brother went to Japan sometime ago and bought a laptop
that came with a licensed Japanese Windows XP Home. Now that he has a newer
laptop, I sort of inherited the laptop with the Japanese Windows installed.

Now, here's the question... Can I just borrow a friend's English Windows XP
Home installer and use the product key that came with the Japanese Windows XP
Home?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

If the machine has a valid license because it was purchased, you could
always give MS a call and explain the situation. It's worth a try.

- Thee Chicago Wolf
 
D

dobey

Thee Chicago Wolf said:
If the machine has a valid license because it was purchased, you could
always give MS a call and explain the situation. It's worth a try.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

Unless the keys are country coded, I can't see why not.
I doubt MS uses a different authentuication scheme, unless it is some
localised product not available elsewhere.
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Nomearod said:
Here's the story... My brother went to Japan sometime ago and bought a laptop
that came with a licensed Japanese Windows XP Home. Now that he has a newer
laptop, I sort of inherited the laptop with the Japanese Windows installed.

Now, here's the question... Can I just borrow a friend's English Windows XP
Home installer and use the product key that came with the Japanese Windows XP
Home?

Thanks in advance for any replies.


No, it won't work. 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/license types cannot be
mixed & matched.


--

Bruce Chambers

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