Can XP (home ed.) be reinstalled with upgrade disk and oem Product key?

[Guest]

Hi,

I have a friend's computer (Compaq Presario 5400) that has
Windows XP Home edition (OEM) installed. The friend has
the Compaq recovery disk, but the disk is only for wiping
the hard drive. It does not contain windows installation
software. I have removed 57 viruses and cleaned over 2000
infected files, but when I go to the windows update site
the scan errors out.

I feel the best approach with this computer wopuld be to
reinstall windows XP. But, I only have a disk for the
upgrade version (from when I built/upgraded my wife's
computer).

My question is, can I use the product ID from the
infected/cleaned computer to reinstall windows using the
upgrade disk. Or is my only option to obtain a windows
OEM install disk with product key and install with the old
product key (and keep the new product key for some future
build)?

I know from past experience that older versions of windows
OEM and upgrade version product keys were not
interchangable.


Thank you in advanced,
Arghhhh!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The Compaq Windows XP Product Key will only work with
the Compaq Recovery CD. It will not work with any other
Windows XP installation CD.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Hi,
|
| I have a friend's computer (Compaq Presario 5400) that has
| Windows XP Home edition (OEM) installed. The friend has
| the Compaq recovery disk, but the disk is only for wiping
| the hard drive. It does not contain windows installation
| software. I have removed 57 viruses and cleaned over 2000
| infected files, but when I go to the windows update site
| the scan errors out.
|
| I feel the best approach with this computer wopuld be to
| reinstall windows XP. But, I only have a disk for the
| upgrade version (from when I built/upgraded my wife's
| computer).
|
| My question is, can I use the product ID from the
| infected/cleaned computer to reinstall windows using the
| upgrade disk. Or is my only option to obtain a windows
| OEM install disk with product key and install with the old
| product key (and keep the new product key for some future
| build)?
|
| I know from past experience that older versions of windows
| OEM and upgrade version product keys were not
| interchangable.
|
|
| Thank you in advanced,
| Arghhhh!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

No, you cannot use an OEM Product Key to perform an installation
from a retail Upgrade 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 CDs cannot be mixed & matched. You
have to have the specific type of installation CD for which that
license and Product Key was designed.


Bruce Chambers
--
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