Damaged OEM CD help

[Guest]

Just built a new computer and performed the windows XP home OEM install, however right near the end (last 5 mins) I bumped my computer and put a scratch in the CD. The install finished okay, but the setup program won't run again if I ever had to reinstall in the future. Tried cleaning the CD but no luck. I do have a functional XP CD from another computer and I was wondernig if I had to do a reinstall on my new computer would it recognize my CD key and still be properly activated?

 

[Harry Ohrn]

OEM keys and Retail keys are not interchangeable. Contact the distributor
you purchased the OEM version from to see if they have a replacement policy.

 

[CWatters]

If both CD are identical and original Microsoft Windows XP OEM CDs then you
are ok. If they are OEM CD from a computer manufacturer like HP of Dell then
probably not. If one is OEM and the other Retail then again you will
probably have problems.

Just built a new computer and performed the windows XP home OEM install,

however right near the end (last 5 mins) I bumped my computer and put a
scratch in the CD. The install finished okay, but the setup program won't
run again if I ever had to reinstall in the future. Tried cleaning the CD
but no luck. I do have a functional XP CD from another computer and I was
wondernig if I had to do a reinstall on my new computer would it recognize
my CD key and still be properly activated?

 

[Guest]

actually my previous copy from my other computer is OEM too... bought from a different distributor though. Does this make the keys compatible?

 

[Michael Stevens]

actually my previous copy from my other computer is OEM too... bought from
a different distributor though. Does this make the keys compatible?

If they are both OEM home the CD key should work. The CD's are not hard
coded, any CD key will work with any given XP CD version. I.E. Retail Pro
key will work with any Retail Pro CD, Retail Home key with any Retail Home
CD. OEM Home CD, any OEM Home CD key, etc. etc. Even an OEM branded and bios
locked XP CD [ A Dell CD for example] will work with a fresh CD key of the
same version Home or Pro.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
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