Install of Retail Windows XP with Enterprise Product Key

[Mickie Joan Stewart]

Yeah, it was stupid. My son installed a new HD in his laptop and couldn't
find his Enterprise Windows XP Pro CD . . . . . so, I thought I could just
use my Retail Win XP Pro and then enter his product key from the back of his
laptop. Am not really trying to game the system. Just was tired of looking
for his CD.

Looks like he's going to have to find it !

Meantime, how do I uninstall the software? Right now I am stuck in the
"Enter Product Key" mode and no matter what I do that is where I return to.

Any suggestions?

 

[Miss Perspicacia Tick]

Yeah, it was stupid. My son installed a new HD in his laptop and
couldn't find his Enterprise Windows XP Pro CD . . . . . so, I
thought I could just use my Retail Win XP Pro and then enter his
product key from the back of his laptop. Am not really trying to
game the system. Just was tired of looking for his CD.

Looks like he's going to have to find it !

Meantime, how do I uninstall the software? Right now I am stuck in
the "Enter Product Key" mode and no matter what I do that is where I
return to.
Any suggestions?

Product keys are version specific. A retail key cannot be used with an OEM
licence and vice versa, nor can a Pro key be used with Home (TTBOMK). Your
son is going to have to find that CD or, if he cannot, he will need to
contact the manufacturer of the laptop for a replacement. As his system is
OEM, the OEM is responsible for *all* support - including replacement keys
and media.

The only choice now is for him to find his disc, or obtain another from the
manufacturer, format and install Windows clean. If he didn't back up, well
he's learnt a very harsh lesson.

Here's a tip. I used to be forever losing discs (and keys), then I bought a
cheap (£3) CD case and a set of CD markers (£1). I now mark all CDs with
their respective keys and keep a log of keys in a text file (with a hard
copy stored in the front of the CD case. I have trained myself to always put
the CDs back in their respective pockets - I've not lost a CD for a year.

I suggest you buy your son the same (it /is/ nearly Christmas!) and train
him!

 

[Mickie Joan Stewart]

Ok . . . That all makes sense. By the way, my son is 43 and married with 4
kids. Neither he or his wife can keep track of anything and they are both
attorneys. He will either find the cd or buy an OEM version from Dell. I
hope they can do that.

I would think that he could also buy a Win XP Pro retail version and install
that with it's own Product Key. Right?

I'm not about to use my key on his machine.

Thanks for your help,

 

[Mickie Joan Stewart]

And, if he does find his OEM CD, how do I reformat his HD?

I am able to get to the A:\ prompt. Is there an appropriate command I could
use from there?

I cannot get to the C:\ prompt cuz his op system hasn't been installed yet
and the HD boots to the Retail Win XP Pro Setup Error - The CD Key You
entered is not valid.

I am in a good old-fashioned loop!

 

[Miss Perspicacia Tick]

Ok . . . That all makes sense. By the way, my son is 43 and married
with 4 kids. Neither he or his wife can keep track of anything and
they are both attorneys. He will either find the cd or buy an OEM
version from Dell. I hope they can do that.

LOL!! Whoops! For some reason I thought we were talking about a teenager
here! :0D

I would think that he could also buy a Win XP Pro retail version and
install that with it's own Product Key. Right?

Yes. He would need to format the drive and start clean. But please make him
aware that, by doing so, he would forfeit all rights to support from the
manufacturer because the OS would not be the one installed when the system
left the factory.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Yeah, it was stupid. My son installed a new HD in his laptop and couldn't
find his Enterprise Windows XP Pro CD . . . . . so, I thought I could just
use my Retail Win XP Pro and then enter his product key from the back of his
laptop. Am not really trying to game the system. Just was tired of looking
for his CD.

Looks like he's going to have to find it !

Meantime, how do I uninstall the software? Right now I am stuck in the
"Enter Product Key" mode and no matter what I do that is where I return to.

Any suggestions?

The normal way to uninstall any operating system is to format the hard
drive and replace it with one of your choice.

As you've discovered, you'll need to use either the original or
another OEM CD, or the Voume License (I'm guessing that this is what you
mean be "Enterprise," as there's no such version) CD and key, at the
very least. 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.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Ok . . . That all makes sense. By the way, my son is 43 and married with 4
kids.

And he relies on his mother for computer support? That is just so
wrong, on so very many different levels. ;-} Planning on cutting the
apron strings any time soon?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[stink finger]

begin Miss Perspiration Stink farted and believing it to be a synapse finally
wrote:

LOL!! Whoops! For some reason I thought

And that's where everything started to go downhill.

 

[Guest]

And he relies on his mother for computer support? That is just so
wrong, on so very many different levels. ;-} Planning on cutting the
apron strings any time soon?

Bruce, I see, in other portions of this thread, you have provided some
potentially useful information. As regards this entry, however, you
might have considered keeping your opinion to yourself.

Few of us are without some fault in our lives, including you. But
there is not one of us who will benefit one iota from your judgmental
remarks. Kindly consider confining your focus to helping others
without judging them for no one placed you in some higher capacity
that would give you license to do so.

Thank you,

f





Return address is invalid to eliminate spam
Reply to Newsgroup only.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Bruce, I see, in other portions of this thread, you have provided some
potentially useful information. As regards this entry, however, you
might have considered keeping your opinion to yourself.

Few of us are without some fault in our lives, including you. But
there is not one of us who will benefit one iota from your judgmental
remarks. Kindly consider confining your focus to helping others
without judging them for no one placed you in some higher capacity
that would give you license to do so.

I do keep forgetting that some people have no sense of humor... No
offense was intended; hence the "smiley" ( ;-} )


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH