Matching OS Reinstallation CD to a computer

[Guest]

I am in a small office with several computers that run XP. I want to use an
OS reinstallation CD on one of the computers. All of our CD's from every
computer are stored together in one location. So I have a few questions.

1. Do I need to use the exact Reinstallation CD that came with this
particular computer?
2. If so, how do I match up the CD to the computer it came with?

The CD's have a DP/N number (6 digits) and a DS/N number (20 digits which
starts with a "US"). I don't see either of these numbers on the computer
anywhere. Can I just use any one of the CD's?

 

[Jerry]

Yes, the CD must match the system it was installed on. (That's why you
should keep track of what went where.)

Download The Belarc Advisor www.belarc.com , install and run it to see what
was installed where.

 

[Guest]

I followed your suggestion. However, the Belarc report did not contain any
information regarding the aforementioned DP/N and DS/N numbers. So I still
do not know which reinstallation CD goes with this particular computer.

Is there another way to reinstall windows besides using the reinstallation
CD that came with the computer?

 

[David B.]

"DP/N" leads me to believe these are Dell PC's? If that is the case you do
not need to worry about matching up the CD to the machine, just use the
proper flavor, Home or Pro. The Dell installation will not ask your for a
product key during the install, and will be pre-activated when finished. If
you dig the key out of the current install using one of the many free tools
out there, you'll find the key it shows does not match the key on the
sticker, perfectly normal.