home, pro and media center keys...can they use the same disk toinstall?

[CodeMonkey]

I have someone who has lost their install disk for their computer but
it needs to be rebuilt. I do have a retail XP SP2 disk but I am
wondering if the key he has will allow an install of XP from that
disk. Do home, pro and media version use the same CD but copy
different things during install? What gotcha's am I going to have to
worry about?

 

[Daave]

I have someone who has lost their install disk for their computer but
it needs to be rebuilt. I do have a retail XP SP2 disk but I am
wondering if the key he has will allow an install of XP from that
disk. Do home, pro and media version use the same CD but copy
different things during install? What gotcha's am I going to have to
worry about?

His key will work only if the license it is asociated with is also
Retail *and* if the version is the same (Home, Pro, MCE). So if he has
an OEM version of Home, that is the CD you need to use.

What is the make and model of his PC? Which version of XP had he been
using? It's possible to create an install disk, too. See:

http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have someone who has lost their install disk for their computer
but it needs to be rebuilt. I do have a retail XP SP2 disk but I am
wondering if the key he has will allow an install of XP from that
disk. Do home, pro and media version use the same CD but copy
different things during install? What gotcha's am I going to have to
worry about?

Windows XP Home OEM
Windows XP Home Retail
Windows XP Home Upgrade
Windows XP Professional OEM
Windows XP Professional Retail
Windows XP Professional Upgrade
Windows XP Professional x64 (OEM)
Windows XP Tablet PC Edition (OEM)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002 (OEM)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (OEM)

Not to mention the Volume License and MSDN/Technet versions... They all
take different sets of keys. In other words a "Retail" key will not work on
an "OEM" licensed copy of Windows XP Professional. A "Windows XP
Professional OEM" key will not work on a copy of "Windows XP Home OEM". And
on down the line.

You can edit a CD so it will take keys for OEM or RETAIL or UPGRADE or MSDN
or VOLUME LICENSING - but you cannot edit the CD so it can install for
Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, etc...


In other words - whatever version he had installed - you qould be better off
using that same type of CD. Chances are an OEM CD - probably Windows XP
Home. ;-P

If you can find a copy of what their license sticker says (or what you find
on the machine now) - you can make a copy of another CD of the same type and
give it to them. ;-)

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have someone who has lost their install disk for their computer but
it needs to be rebuilt. I do have a retail XP SP2 disk but I am
wondering if the key he has will allow an install of XP from that
disk.

Yes, if the key and CD match with respect to Home vs. Professional vs.
Media Center Edition, Retail vs. OEM, and Full vs. Upgrade. Otherwise
no.

Do home, pro and media version use the same CD but copy
different things during install?

No.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have someone who has lost their install disk for their computer but
it needs to be rebuilt. I do have a retail XP SP2 disk but I am
wondering if the key he has will allow an install of XP from that
disk. Do home, pro and media version use the same CD but copy
different things during install? What gotcha's am I going to have to
worry about?

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of
CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, or full) 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 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 usually (it's been reported
that the Product Key for a full license will work with an Upgrade CD) be
mixed & matched.


--

Bruce Chambers

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