installation without CD?

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This is probably a stupid question, but I've lost my xp installation CD (I
had to reconfig my whole computer recently and had initially installed it a
few years ago) yet still have the product key...has anyone committed this
folly and/or tried to contact XP to get another download by using their
product info? I was hoping they'd take pity and send another CD since I have
all the necessary proof of purchase. Or is there any other secret way to get
around this? Thanks and again, pardon the ignorance of the question.
 
In
justdel said:
This is probably a stupid question, but I've lost my xp
installation
CD (I had to reconfig my whole computer recently and had
initially
installed it a few years ago) yet still have the product
key...has
anyone committed this folly and/or tried to contact XP to get
another
download by using their product info? I was hoping they'd take
pity
and send another CD since I have all the necessary proof of
purchase.
Or is there any other secret way to get around this? Thanks
and
again, pardon the ignorance of the question.
Click to expand...

If yours was a retail version, see
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[ln];326246.

But if it was an OEM version, Microsoft won't support it and
you're probably out of luck. However it doesn't hurt to try
asking the OEM you bought it from if they can replace it.
 
How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[ln];326246

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| This is probably a stupid question, but I've lost my xp installation CD (I
| had to reconfig my whole computer recently and had initially installed it a
| few years ago) yet still have the product key...has anyone committed this
| folly and/or tried to contact XP to get another download by using their
| product info? I was hoping they'd take pity and send another CD since I have
| all the necessary proof of purchase. Or is there any other secret way to get
| around this? Thanks and again, pardon the ignorance of the question.
 
justdel said:
This is probably a stupid question, but I've lost my xp installation CD (I
had to reconfig my whole computer recently and had initially installed it a
few years ago) yet still have the product key...has anyone committed this
folly and/or tried to contact XP to get another download by using their
product info? I was hoping they'd take pity and send another CD since I have
all the necessary proof of purchase. Or is there any other secret way to get
around this? Thanks and again, pardon the ignorance of the question.
Click to expand...


If it was a retail license and you have proof of purchase:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

If it was an OEM license, you should contact the computer's
manufacturer.

--

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
 
If you know someone who has the same version of XP as your product key is
for then you might be able use their CD to install with and supply your
product key when required during setup. This must be the same version though
so if you version of XP came preinstalled then you likely have an OEM
version of XP Home. A Retail version of XP Home will not work with your key
though and vice versa. If you had a Retail version of XP on your system you
can use your key with an OEM version.

As Far as I know there is no legal way to download Windows XP unless you
have an MSDN account.
 
correction should read "If you had a Retail version of XP on your system you
CANNOT use your key with an OEM version of XP".

Sorry for the typo <g>

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


Harry Ohrn said:
If you know someone who has the same version of XP as your product key is
for then you might be able use their CD to install with and supply your
product key when required during setup. This must be the same version
though so if you version of XP came preinstalled then you likely have an
OEM version of XP Home. A Retail version of XP Home will not work with
your key though and vice versa. If you had a Retail version of XP on your
system you can use your key with an OEM version.

As Far as I know there is no legal way to download Windows XP unless you
have an MSDN account.

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


justdel said:
This is probably a stupid question, but I've lost my xp installation CD
(I
had to reconfig my whole computer recently and had initially installed it
a
few years ago) yet still have the product key...has anyone committed this
folly and/or tried to contact XP to get another download by using their
product info? I was hoping they'd take pity and send another CD since I
have
all the necessary proof of purchase. Or is there any other secret way to
get
around this? Thanks and again, pardon the ignorance of the question.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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