Emergency Installation of XP - How to Solve Activation Problem

V

VC

We are a not-forprofit organization and work on donated computers. We had a
crash that required us to reinstall the operating system. Unfortunately, we
had not receive the operating system CD with the donated computer.

When the crash happened, we were under a severe time constraint and so used
another WINDOWS XP CD that had come with another computer. Now we cannot
activate the operating system on the computer that had crashed. I realize we
must purchase a new copy of Windows XP in order to do the activation, and we
are fine with that.

But unfortunately, we have already spent considerable time installing and
configuring software on that computer. Is there a way to somehow use the
product key from the new license we will purchase to activate the exisitng
installation? We realize and accept that that new XP CD would then be
permanently linked to the computer in question.

Thanks for your help.
 
V

VC

PS Forgot to say we are trying to avoid having to reinstall the operation
systema nd thus lose all our software installation and and configuration
work.
 
V

VC

Forgot to say - we are trying to avoid having to redo all the software
instqalltions and configutration if we must reinstall XP.
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

We are a not-forprofit organization and work on donated computers. We had a
crash that required us to reinstall the operating system. Unfortunately, we
had not receive the operating system CD with the donated computer.

When the crash happened, we were under a severe time constraint and so used
another WINDOWS XP CD that had come with another computer. Now we cannot
activate the operating system on the computer that had crashed. I realize we
must purchase a new copy of Windows XP in order to do the activation, and we
are fine with that.

But unfortunately, we have already spent considerable time installing and
configuring software on that computer. Is there a way to somehow use the
product key from the new license we will purchase to activate the exisitng
installation?


Yes, *if* the old CD and the new one match with respect to Home vs.
Professional, Retail vs. OEM, and Full vs. Upgrade. If they don't
match, the product key will not work.

We realize and accept that that new XP CD would then be
permanently linked to the computer in question.



Sorry, but that's not necessarily correct. Only if you buy an OEM CD
is what you say true. With retail CDs, you can move the installation
from computer to computer as many times as you want to.

It's for that reason that I almost always recommend against buying OEM
copies. My view is that an OEM copy is the worst kind you can buy. It
comes with several restrictions, and the worst restriction is that the
license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed on.
Even if the computer dies, you may not use your copy on another
computer. Retail versions do not have that restriction.

Despite what some people think, an Upgrade copy *can* do a clean
installation as long as you own a CD of a previous qualifying version
to show it as proof of ownership when prompted. Most people have a
Windows 98 CD around, but worst case, if you don't, you can buy one
inexpensively someplace like eBay.

Since the Upgrade normally costs only slightly more than an OEM copy,
I strongly recommend that you buy an Upgrade.
 
P

philo

VC said:
We are a not-forprofit organization and work on donated computers. We had
a
crash that required us to reinstall the operating system. Unfortunately,
we
had not receive the operating system CD with the donated computer.

When the crash happened, we were under a severe time constraint and so
used
another WINDOWS XP CD that had come with another computer. Now we cannot
activate the operating system on the computer that had crashed. I realize
we
must purchase a new copy of Windows XP in order to do the activation, and
we
are fine with that.

But unfortunately, we have already spent considerable time installing and
configuring software on that computer. Is there a way to somehow use
the
product key from the new license we will purchase to activate the exisitng
installation? We realize and accept that that new XP CD would then be
permanently linked to the computer in question.

Thanks for your help.

I volunteer for a NPO and also refurbish donated computers on a regular
basis.
If you need to install XP on 20 machines a year (or more)
you can re-licence a machine for just $5 each

(The same program also has Win2k avail, which I use
as the machines I work on are mostly p-II and P-III's )

http://oem.microsoft.com/public/seo/mar.htm
 
V

VC

The one we used was an OEM.

1) Are you saying that if we purchase a retail upgrade, though, and own
some retail Windows CD that we can reinstall the upgrade withouthaving to
reinstall our other software prorgams>

2) Can we install the new upgrade XP from a network drive? We still haven't
found a driver to install the CD/DVR drive on this computer.
 
V

VC

That link only seems to deal with large-scale refurbishers. Any place for
people like us? Thanks.
 
V

VC

PS Is there any way for a not-for-profit with donated PC's to somehow
reactivate the licenses that originally came with those PC's? The Miscrosoft
product key sticker is still on some of these donated computers, including
the one in question.

Thanks for your help.
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

The one we used was an OEM.

1) Are you saying that if we purchase a retail upgrade, though, and own
some retail Windows CD that we can reinstall the upgrade withouthaving to
reinstall our other software prorgams.


No. You can do two things with an upgrade:

1. Upgrade an appropriate previous Window version such as 98 or Me.

2. Do a clean installation, as I explained below.

2) Can we install the new upgrade XP from a network drive? We still haven't
found a driver to install the CD/DVR drive on this computer.


No. You can't upgrade the way you want to do. All you can do with an
Upgrade CD in your situation is a clean installation, and you do a
clean installation by booting from the CD.

Despite my arguing against OEM copies below, given your desire to
simply "use the product key from the new license," what you need to
buy is an OEM copy of the same (Home vs. Professional) kind of Windows
XP.
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

PS Is there any way for a not-for-profit with donated PC's to somehow
reactivate the licenses that originally came with those PC's? The Miscrosoft
product key sticker is still on some of these donated computers, including
the one in question.


There is no need to reactive the license. Activation pertains to the
computer, not the owner. It doesn't expire if the computer is sold or
given to someone else.

By the way if the computer has a product key sticker on it, it came
with Windows XP installed, and is therefore an OEM version.
 
P

philo

VC said:
That link only seems to deal with large-scale refurbishers. Any place for
people like us? Thanks.


The requirement is 20 licenses a year


How many machines do you refurb in a year's time?
 

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