Question about WinXP and OEM install...

[Franz Bruyere Jr.]

Greetings...

I have a couple of questions regarding Windows XP installation and
activation.

1) If I have a Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade Ver 2002 (legal with
COA and Prod Key sticker), can I legally get a 'copy' of the Windows XP
Home Upgrade with SP2 cd? It would make it easier than having to do all
the SP2 upgrades after installing the original version.

2) I received a Compaq computer from a client of mine after working on
a new computer she bought. The (original) hard drive was dead, and I
couldn't recover anything off of it.

The case has the Windows XP Home Edition COA with the Prod Key. Since I
have this COA, does this mean I can install WinXP Home on this computer
with this Key?

I put a new hard drive in the system and tried to do this, but it told
me that the Key was invalid. Is there another way that I can do this? Or
do I have to try to get the Restore CD from Compaq?

Thanks for any info...

Franz Bruyere Jr.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a couple of questions regarding Windows XP installation and
activation.

1) If I have a Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade Ver 2002 (legal
with COA and Prod Key sticker), can I legally get a 'copy' of the
Windows XP Home Upgrade with SP2 cd? It would make it easier than
having to do all the SP2 upgrades after installing the original
version.
2) I received a Compaq computer from a client of mine after
working on a new computer she bought. The (original) hard drive
was dead, and I couldn't recover anything off of it.

The case has the Windows XP Home Edition COA with the Prod Key.
Since I have this COA, does this mean I can install WinXP Home on
this computer with this Key?

I put a new hard drive in the system and tried to do this, but it
told me that the Key was invalid. Is there another way that I can
do this? Or do I have to try to get the Restore CD from Compaq?

1) Integrate SP2 and all patches after that yourself using Autostreamer and
some command lines or nLite or other such tools freely available on the
Internet. Use your fresh CD to install.

2) You *can* install if you have a generic OEM version of Windows XP Home
that will work with said CD key on the Compaq computer.. Yes. If the key
does not work - you will have to contact Compaq and/or buy a generic OEM CD
(cheapest route) and use its new key on the machine. Although - to be
honest - I do not see why the key would not work as long as you had the same
type (OEM) CD as the original.

AutoStreamer
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=223562

nLite
http://www.nliteos.com/download.html

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings...

I have a couple of questions regarding Windows XP installation and
activation.

1) If I have a Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade Ver 2002 (legal with
COA and Prod Key sticker), can I legally get a 'copy' of the Windows XP
Home Upgrade with SP2 cd? It would make it easier than having to do all
the SP2 upgrades after installing the original version.

No, but you can easily create one of your own by slipstreaming the
service pack into the installation files.

For slip-streaming the service pack and subsequent updates to WinXP:

How to integrate software updates into your Windows installation source
files
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;828930

SlipStreaming WinXP
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

2) I received a Compaq computer from a client of mine after working on
a new computer she bought. The (original) hard drive was dead, and I
couldn't recover anything off of it.

The case has the Windows XP Home Edition COA with the Prod Key. Since I
have this COA, does this mean I can install WinXP Home on this computer
with this Key?

If you have a copy of a generic, unbranded OEM WinXP Home CD, yes.
That Product Key could not be used with anything other than an OEM WinXP
Home CD.

I put a new hard drive in the system and tried to do this, but it told
me that the Key was invalid.

This is because Product Keys are bound to the specific type and
language of CD and/or 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.

Is there another way that I can do this? Or
do I have to try to get the Restore CD from Compaq?

I rather doubt that HP/Compaq would be willing to provide such support
to anyone but the original purchaser of the PC (and then only whilst
within the warranty period), but it certainly can't hurt to ask.
Otherwise, you should be able to use a generic, unbranded OEM
installation CD with that Product Key. You might be able to borrow such
a CD from an acquaintance, or pick one up quite inexpensively at a
computer swap meet or second-hand shop.



--

Bruce Chambers

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[Franz Bruyere Jr.]

1) Integrate SP2 and all patches after that yourself using Autostreamer and
some command lines or nLite or other such tools freely available on the
Internet. Use your fresh CD to install.

Hi Shenan,

I just read about that and will give it a try... thanks.

2) You *can* install if you have a generic OEM version of Windows XP Home
that will work with said CD key on the Compaq computer.. Yes. If the key
does not work - you will have to contact Compaq and/or buy a generic OEM CD
(cheapest route) and use its new key on the machine. Although - to be
honest - I do not see why the key would not work as long as you had the same
type (OEM) CD as the original.

That's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure. I'd like to get the
system up and running but don't have an extra copy of XP Home.

Franz

 

[Franz Bruyere Jr.]

No, but you can easily create one of your own by slipstreaming the
service pack into the installation files.

For slip-streaming the service pack and subsequent updates to WinXP:

How to integrate software updates into your Windows installation source
files
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;828930

SlipStreaming WinXP
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

Hi Bruce,

Thanks... I just read about that today and will give it a try.

If you have a copy of a generic, unbranded OEM WinXP Home CD, yes.
That Product Key could not be used with anything other than an OEM WinXP
Home CD.





This is because Product Keys are bound to the specific type and
language of CD and/or 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.

That would explain it then... my WinXP is Retail...

I rather doubt that HP/Compaq would be willing to provide such
support to anyone but the original purchaser of the PC (and then only
whilst within the warranty period), but it certainly can't hurt to ask.
Otherwise, you should be able to use a generic, unbranded OEM
installation CD with that Product Key. You might be able to borrow such
a CD from an acquaintance, or pick one up quite inexpensively at a
computer swap meet or second-hand shop.

According to the HP/Compaq site, the restore CD is not available... I'll
just have to look around and see what I can find.

Any full install OEM version, as long as it's not branded to Dell or
IBM, etc., right?


Thanks for the info... will see what I can find.

Franz