How to use the original WIN2k product key on new install

M

mh9918

I purchased 8 PC's from a government auction and found that the hard
drives had been removed and crushed to prevent any data loss mishap.
They all had WIN2k Pro installed and all have the MS sticker with
product key number. I have purchased new hard drives for them and now
need to install the OS. Can I purchase an OEM WIN2k cd and install on
all 8 units using the original product key? Is there another approach
I should take? I have a retail version of WIN2k and Installed it but
it will only work with the product key on it's case. I want to stay
strictly legit.

Thanks for any advice or help.

mh9918
 
P

Pegasus \(MVP\)

I purchased 8 PC's from a government auction and found that the hard
drives had been removed and crushed to prevent any data loss mishap.
They all had WIN2k Pro installed and all have the MS sticker with
product key number. I have purchased new hard drives for them and now
need to install the OS. Can I purchase an OEM WIN2k cd and install on
all 8 units using the original product key? Is there another approach
I should take? I have a retail version of WIN2k and Installed it but
it will only work with the product key on it's case. I want to stay
strictly legit.

Thanks for any advice or help.

mh9918

Yes, you can. Win2000 is not fussy. Where will you get the OEM licences
from?
 
M

mh9918

Right - I meant to ask "where will you get the CD from".



Thanks for the input. I have been looking around and have found OEM
versions available on e-bay and other places for around $40.00 to
$130.00. Some are listed as having SP2 and some as having SP4. My
experience with trying to install SP4 a few years ago on another
computer resulted in having to do a total recovery re-install which
wiped out the hard drive.
I don't want to have that trouble again so will probably stick to
WIN2k SP2. Any suggestions on where to purchase the WIN2k CD?
 
P

Pegasus \(MVP\)

Thanks for the input. I have been looking around and have found OEM
versions available on e-bay and other places for around $40.00 to
$130.00. Some are listed as having SP2 and some as having SP4. My
experience with trying to install SP4 a few years ago on another
computer resulted in having to do a total recovery re-install which
wiped out the hard drive.
I don't want to have that trouble again so will probably stick to
WIN2k SP2. Any suggestions on where to purchase the WIN2k CD?

I would go for the $40.00 CD. Your mishap with SP4 was a freak event. There
was nothing wrong with this service pack. You should use it!
 
D

Dave Patrick

Ditto the SP4. Be sure to apply SP4 and these two below to your new install
before connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx


Then

Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en
and
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS08-067.mspx


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
V

VoVo

Ditto the SP4. Be sure to apply SP4 and these two below to your new install
before connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)http://download.microsoft.com/downl...t.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

Then

Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?amp;displaylang=en&fa...
andhttp://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS08-067.mspx

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Thanks for the input. I have been looking around and have found OEM
versions available on e-bay and other places for around $40.00 to
$130.00. Some are listed as having SP2 and some as having SP4. My
experience with trying to install SP4 a few years ago on another
computer resulted in having to do a total recovery re-install which
wiped out the hard drive.
I don't want to have that trouble again so will probably stick to
WIN2k SP2. Any suggestions on where to purchase the WIN2k CD?

Dave,

Thanks for the advice AND the links.

MH
 
V

VoVo

You're welcome.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:

Dave,

Thanks for the advice AND the links.

MH

Dave,

The link you provided for W2KSP4_EN.EXE at Microsoft.com is no longer
valid. However, there are many sources for the file listed when I
"google" the file name. Is there any problem with using one of the
other download sites to get this file? Also, a search for Windows 2000
SP4 at the Microsoft download site brought up SP4express_EN.EXE (for
end users). Can I use that instead of W2KSP4_EN.EXE?

Thanks again for your help.

MH
 
J

John John (MVP)

VoVo said:
The link you provided for W2KSP4_EN.EXE at Microsoft.com is no longer
valid. However, there are many sources for the file listed when I
"google" the file name. Is there any problem with using one of the
other download sites to get this file? Also, a search for Windows 2000
SP4 at the Microsoft download site brought up SP4express_EN.EXE (for
end users). Can I use that instead of W2KSP4_EN.EXE?

Thanks again for your help.

I can't find the network download for Windows 2000 SP4 anywhere on the
Microsoft site. It looks like Microsoft has decided to pull the plug on
Windows 2000 a full 18 months before its Extended Support retirement
date. This doesn't reflect too well on Microsoft's reputation and
trustworthiness. If they can't be trusted to honour their support
commitments then why should anyone believe anything that they say from
here on?

John
 
P

philo

Thanks for the input. I have been looking around and have found OEM
versions available on e-bay and other places for around $40.00 to
$130.00. Some are listed as having SP2 and some as having SP4. My
experience with trying to install SP4 a few years ago on another
computer resulted in having to do a total recovery re-install which
wiped out the hard drive.
I don't want to have that trouble again so will probably stick to
WIN2k SP2. Any suggestions on where to purchase the WIN2k CD?

Win2k is quite insecure "out of the box"

you will defiantly need to apply sp4 along with all the updates (about 50 of
them or so)

I have never had the slightest problem with SP4 so I suspect you simply
encountered one of those rare glitches.
 

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