I have an XP key, but no disc to install it with.

[Guest]

A while ago I had an incident while partitioning and the result ended in
several explicatives. Anyway, this computer was a floor model from BestBuy,
and did not come with any discs or even a box. Now, I have an XP Home key on
a sticker on the computer, but I have no disc to reinstall with. Can I
somehow obatain a disc without buying a full new retail version? Thanks in
advance.

 

[Guest]

You'll need to contact the support department of the manufacturer of your
computer and request their recovery, restore, or reinstallation CD for
Windows XP.

 

[Malke]

A while ago I had an incident while partitioning and the result ended
in
several explicatives. Anyway, this computer was a floor model from
BestBuy,
and did not come with any discs or even a box. Now, I have an XP Home
key on
a sticker on the computer, but I have no disc to reinstall with. Can
I
somehow obatain a disc without buying a full new retail version?
Thanks in advance.

BestBuy should have given you some way of returning the computer to
factory condition. Get an XP Home OEM disk from them. Otherwise, you
can borrow one from a friend - it must be the same version as your
installed Windows. Your license to use the operating system is tied to
the product key (on the case sticker), not to the physical cd.

Malke

 

[Guest]

sorry im posting here but i can't start a new thread *confused*, i have found
on www.microdirect.co.uk a Windows XP CD with Key for £50. What i would like
to know is if that would boot up as i don't have an OS as its a new hard
drive?

its an OEM disk.

many regards,
Richard Edmonds

 

[John Coode]

sorry im posting here but i can't start a new thread *confused*, i have found
on www.microdirect.co.uk a Windows XP CD with Key for £50. What i would like
to know is if that would boot up as i don't have an OS as its a new hard
drive?

its an OEM disk.

many regards,
Richard Edmonds

Yes. The XP CD is bootable and you can start installation on a clean
hard drive by booting from it. It will allow you to partition and format
the disk before installing XP.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

A while ago I had an incident while partitioning and the result ended
in several explicatives. Anyway, this computer was a floor model
from BestBuy, and did not come with any discs or even a box. Now, I
have an XP Home key on a sticker on the computer, but I have no disc
to reinstall with. Can I somehow obatain a disc without buying a
full new retail version? Thanks in advance.

OEM vendors are required by their agreement with Microsoft to give you a
means of reinstalling, should it be necessary. They can do this in one of
three ways:

1. An OEM copy of Windows
2. A restore CD
3. A hidden partition on your drive, with restore information.

If you don't have 1 or 2, you should have 3, but you should contact your
vendor to find out.

Personally, I find both 2 and 3 unacceptable (especially 3; a hard drive
crash can leave you with nothing), and would never choose to buy a computer
that came with an operating system unless I got a complete generic
installation CD for that operating system.

 

[Ghostrider]

BWhere wrote:





OEM vendors are required by their agreement with Microsoft to give you a
means of reinstalling, should it be necessary. They can do this in one of
three ways:

1. An OEM copy of Windows
2. A restore CD
3. A hidden partition on your drive, with restore information.

If you don't have 1 or 2, you should have 3, but you should contact your
vendor to find out.

Personally, I find both 2 and 3 unacceptable (especially 3; a hard drive
crash can leave you with nothing), and would never choose to buy a computer
that came with an operating system unless I got a complete generic
installation CD for that operating system.

Regretfully, Microsoft has given great license to its OEM's
on what it can or cannot do with a copy of Windows. Option 3
has become quite popular as it could possibly be the easiet
for the computer maker to duplicate and manage. And Option 2,
of course, removes the OEM from all liability subsequent to
the original sale. Good luck in promoting your objections to
the powers-that-be at Microsoft.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

"Regretfully, Microsoft has given great license..."
Nothing regrettable about it.
Microsoft has given several options to the OEMs.
The OEM chooses the option they feel best suits their customers.
It is for the customers to decide which option they want and proceed from
there.
If the consumers would refuse to purchase a particular option, that option
would cease to be available.
These options contribute to the inexpensive cost many consumers demand of
the computers they buy.

Personally I will probably never purchase or recommend anyone purchase a
computer with the only recovery means a hidden partition.
Depending on the user I may recommend the recovery CD but I will not buy
them for myself if I have a choice.
I prefer a retail CD for myself but the generic OEM is a good choice for
many.

Consumers need to educate themselves on the options and shop accordingly.
It should be the consumers that choose and not Microsoft mandating which
option is provided by the OEM.
Choice is good.

 

[Bruce Mahnke]

BestBuy should have given you some way of returning the computer to
factory condition. Get an XP Home OEM disk from them. Otherwise, you
can borrow one from a friend - it must be the same version as your
installed Windows. Your license to use the operating system is tied to
the product key (on the case sticker), not to the physical cd.

Malke

I would like to clarify a point that you made where you said "…it must
be the same version as your installed Windows." My question then
becomes – does this suggest that if the existing operating system was
Windows XP Home Edition (original release or perhaps with SP1) with a
known Product Key, an OEM version of that release must be used? In
other words in this example I believe that you are suggesting that an
OEM version containing SP2 cannot be used with the Product Key supplied
with the PC.

Thanks for your help. I'm looking to better understand the available
options.

Best regards,
B. Mahnke

 

[Bruce Mahnke]

BestBuy should have given you some way of returning the computer to
factory condition. Get an XP Home OEM disk from them. Otherwise, you
can borrow one from a friend - it must be the same version as your
installed Windows. Your license to use the operating system is tied to
the product key (on the case sticker), not to the physical cd.

Malke

I would like to clarify a point that you made where you said "…it must
be the same version as your installed Windows." My question then
becomes – does this suggest that if the existing operating system was
Windows XP Home Edition (original release or perhaps with SP1) with a
known Product Key, an OEM version of that release must be used? In
other words in this example I believe that you are suggesting that an
OEM version containing SP2 cannot be used with the Product Key supplied
with the PC. Can a retail CD be used instead of an OEM version?

Thanks for your help. I'm looking to better understand the available
options.

Best regards,
B. Mahnke

 

[Bruce Chambers]

A while ago I had an incident while partitioning and the result ended in
several explicatives. Anyway, this computer was a floor model from BestBuy,
and did not come with any discs or even a box. Now, I have an XP Home key on
a sticker on the computer, but I have no disc to reinstall with. Can I
somehow obatain a disc without buying a full new retail version? Thanks in
advance.

Contact the computer's manufacturer. Also, contact BestBuy; they're in
violation of their contract with the manufacturer if they withheld the
obligatory recovery method from you.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I would like to clarify a point that you made where you said "…it must
be the same version as your installed Windows." My question then
becomes – does this suggest that if the existing operating system was
Windows XP Home Edition (original release or perhaps with SP1) with a
known Product Key, an OEM version of that release must be used? In
other words in this example I believe that you are suggesting that an
OEM version containing SP2 cannot be used with the Product Key supplied
with the PC. Can a retail CD be used instead of an OEM version?

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 CD types cannot be mixed & matched.

However, the Service Pack level of the CD, if all else is correct,
should make no difference. If it did, no one would be able to use
home-made slipstreamed installation CDs.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[Bruce Mahnke]

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 CD types cannot be mixed & matched.

However, the Service Pack level of the CD, if all else is correct,
should make no difference. If it did, no one would be able to use
home-made slipstreamed installation CDs.

Thank you for your response. That was very informative and helps
greatly in understanding how the process works. Exactly what I was
trying to understand. Thank you once again.

Best regards,
B. Mahnke

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Thank you for your response. That was very informative and helps
greatly in understanding how the process works. Exactly what I was
trying to understand. Thank you once again.

Best regards,
B. Mahnke

You're welcome.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin