OEM reinstall using Win XP disk

[rwhitney]

I have a 3 year old Dell 8200. It is time for me to wipe the hard
drive clean. I will be replaceing the old 80G hard drive with a larger
version, 320G. I have updated the Bios. My question is can I use a
copy of Win XP that I own to reinstall, and not use the Disk Dell sends
with the computer to put the computer back to the state it was when it
was bought. I only want certain programs installed. I would use the
product key on the side of this computer.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The Dell OEM Product Key will only be valid
with a Dell Windows XP Reinstallation CD.
It cannot be used with a "retail" Windows XP CD.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

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

:

| I have a 3 year old Dell 8200. It is time for me to wipe the hard
| drive clean. I will be replaceing the old 80G hard drive with a larger
| version, 320G. I have updated the Bios. My question is can I use a
| copy of Win XP that I own to reinstall, and not use the Disk Dell sends
| with the computer to put the computer back to the state it was when it
| was bought. I only want certain programs installed. I would use the
| product key on the side of this computer.
|

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a 3 year old Dell 8200. It is time for me to wipe the hard
drive clean. I will be replaceing the old 80G hard drive with a larger
version, 320G. I have updated the Bios. My question is can I use a
copy of Win XP that I own to reinstall, and not use the Disk Dell sends
with the computer to put the computer back to the state it was when it
was bought. I only want certain programs installed. I would use the
product key on the side of this computer.

It wouldn't work, unless that other WinXP CD you have is an unbranded,
generic OEM CD.

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

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[Rob]

Looks like I need to use the OEM disk that came with the computer! I
have the disk. Does repalcing the hard drive pose a problem?

 

[Rob]

Looks like I need to use the OEM disk that came with the computer! I
have the disk. Does repalcing the hard drive pose a problem?

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

You will find instructions on reinstalling on your Dell here.

http://support.dell.com/support/top...d=0A6DDE26E66F36C7E0401E0A5517368C&redirect=1

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have recently bought a secondhand laptop with an XP pro OEM licence.
Problem is that the hard drive has been destroyed for security reasons
Is it possible to "upgrade" the key to use for my normal XP pro
installation disc?

Sorry, I'm not sure what you're asking here.

You say the hard drive has been "destroyed." That word normally implies that
it physically doesn't exist any more. Do you mean that its *contents* have
been destroyed?

What do you mean by "upgrade the key"? What is your "normal XP pro
installation disc?"

Are you asking whether you can use a copy of Windows XP Professional that
you have installed on another computer? No, it's one installation per
license. You can't do that unless you buy a second license (which is not a
good deal).

Or are you asking whether you can use another Retail XP CD with your OEM
key? No, you can't do that either. OEM keys will not work with retail CDs.

If you mean something else, please clarify.

 

[Leythos]

I have recently bought a secondhand laptop with an XP pro OEM licence.
Problem is that the hard drive has been destroyed for security reasons
Is it possible to "upgrade" the key to use for my normal XP pro installation
disc?

The OEM license is still valid for that Laptop, all you need is the OEM
media, which should have come with the laptop. So, install a new laptop
hard drive (unless you didn't mean "destroyed, and it's still in the
laptop), boot from the OEM Windows XP cd, and use the key from the
Windows License sticker on the bottom of the laptop.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi Ken

Sorry i wasn't to clear, but it makes perfect sense translated to my
language
When i say destroyed i mean physically destroyed, like using a mallet.

OK, understood. So you have bought, or will buy, another drive.

Acer doesn't provide medias with the image, it's made as an image on a
seperate partition on the original harddrive. So the installation is
completely lost, unless i get hold of another person with the same
model.
I knew that i couldn't use the OEM key with my Retail XP, so i was
merely asking if i could "upgrade" my OEM key to a retail key, and
use my current cd.

Sorry, no, there's no way to do that. I don't know whether Acer would be
willing to providea CD for a reasonable price, but it should be worth a
phone call to them to find out.

If not, I think you're stuck with having to buy a new CD.

I hope this clarifies the issue
And have a great new year btw.

Thanks very much. You too.

 

[Guest]

The OEM license is still valid for that Laptop, all you need is the OEM
media, which should have come with the laptop. So, install a new laptop
hard drive (unless you didn't mean "destroyed, and it's still in the
laptop), boot from the OEM Windows XP cd, and use the key from the
Windows License sticker on the bottom of the laptop.
(e-mail address removed)
remove 999 in order to email me

Thanks mate.
This actually answered my next question, as i wasn't sure if the OEM key was
tied to one specific OEM install disc.
Now i just need to get my hands on one of those. Not that easy i found out,
since most my friends have installation discs with all sorts of crappy extra
software on'em.