One CD and Multiple XP Pro licenses

[Guest]

I have a WinXP Pro CD I have been using to reload several PC's. Each of these
computers I reload have their own Windows XP licenses attached to their case
that came orginally installed on them. My problem is when I get to the point
in the Windows setup to enter the product key it never takes the one that is
assigned to the computer...I HAVE to enter the key that is associated with
the CD. Once the setup is complete and I login, it then tells me I must
activate Windows. When I do this is doesn't work and I have to call
Microsoft. They then give me a code and it works fine. Is there a way I can
use this Windows XP Pro CD and have it take the correct ID in the first
place? Or does this CD only work with its assigned Product ID?Any ideas or
help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Jetro]

Retail and OEM keys aren't interchangeable.

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

Your computers came with OEM versions of Windows. You cannot use a Retail
version of windows to activate them. It would be far better to use the disc
that came with the computer, as it will have specific drivers for the
hardware, as opposed to using the windows generic drivers from the retail
CD.

Bobby

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the information. What happens if I don't have the orginal restore
CD that came with the computer? Is there a way around this if I don't have
it? Also, by doing this is this making the copy of WinXP illegal by MS
standards?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

If you do not have the restore cd for a computer, contact the manufacturer
for a replacement. If you cannot obtain a restore cd, you will need to
purchase a retail cd.

You did not say how many computers are involved here or whether you are
working in an enterprise, home, academic, or government environment.

Microsoft does sell extra licenses so you could use one retail cd on the
number of machines that you purchased licenses for, but the cost of the
licenses is not very much less than just buying the same number of retail
copies.

 

[Jetro]

Regular OEM CD would be enough.