Re-Install WinXP without original CD?

[Toni]

I need to install Windows XP Pro SP2 on my ditzy cousin's crashed computer.

I've got the WinXP product key, but I do not have the original Windows XP install CD.
Can I install using my product key and any Windows XP Pro CD?

Thanks!

Toni

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I need to install Windows XP Pro SP2 on my ditzy cousin's crashed
computer.

I've got the WinXP product key, but I do not have the original
Windows XP install CD. Can I install using my product key and any
Windows XP Pro CD?

No. Not exactly.

You need the same version (Professional, Home, etc) and type (OEM, retail,
upgrade, etc)...

If your cousin has an OEM install and your CD is a generic OEM installation
CD and no special drivers are needed - you could be fine.

Also - you should use your cousin's product key, not yours. (RE: Can I
install using my product key...)

 

[Toni]

No. Not exactly.

You need the same version (Professional, Home, etc) and type (OEM, retail,
upgrade, etc)...

If your cousin has an OEM install and your CD is a generic OEM installation
CD and no special drivers are needed - you could be fine.

Also - you should use your cousin's product key, not yours. (RE: Can I
install using my product key...)

Let me re-phrase:

Can I use any Windows XP install CD and any WinXP product key, providing both the CD and
the key are for Windows XP Pro retail?

(it's my cousin's product key, and my CD, which are both WinXP Pro retail)

 

[Gaffer Gill]

I have a related question. I purchased copy of Windows XP Pro when it was
first intoduced. I still have the Product Key but the installation disk has
been destroyed. I have sufferred a hrddisk failure on the machine that this
product was insall on and I would like to know if I can obtain a replacement
installation disk or download the neccessary installation files?

Thanks in advance for any help that may be forth coming,

Gaffer Gill

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I need to install Windows XP Pro SP2 on my ditzy cousin's crashed
computer.

I've got the WinXP product key, but I do not have the original
Windows XP install CD. Can I install using my product key and any
Windows XP Pro CD?

No. Not exactly.

You need the same version (Professional, Home, etc) and type (OEM,
retail, upgrade, etc)...

If your cousin has an OEM install and your CD is a generic OEM
installation CD and no special drivers are needed - you could be
fine.

Also - you should use your cousin's product key, not yours. (RE:
Can I install using my product key...)

Let me re-phrase:

Can I use any Windows XP install CD and any WinXP product key,
providing both the CD and the key are for Windows XP Pro retail?

(it's my cousin's product key, and my CD, which are both WinXP Pro
retail)

Are you saying you have a Retail Windows XP Professional CD and you have two
Retail Windows XP Professional Product Keys? If so - yes - you should have
no problem.

The CD doesn't know what its product key is - only the type of product key
it should get (using an algorithm.) So you can use anyones Windows XP
Professional Retail CD with anyones Windows XP Professional Retail Product
Key (assuming no customization has occurred - which is more common with the
OEM and volume licenses.)

Basically:

Retail Product Key - need Retail CD.
OEM Product Key - need OEM CD (better with generic.)
Volume License Product Key - need a Volume License CD.

You can create a CD out of any of those that accepts any one of the other
Product Keys instead of what it was originally accepting by changing the
SETUPP.INI file and burning a new CD.

There is a slight exception in there - Windows XP Professional OEM CD with
SP2c...
http://oem.microsoft.com/public/seo/winxp_sp2c.htm

But since you say you have Retail CDs and Product Keys - you do not have to
worry about that.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a related question. I purchased copy of Windows XP Pro when
it was first intoduced. I still have the Product Key but the
installation disk has been destroyed. I have sufferred a hrddisk
failure on the machine that this product was insall on and I would
like to know if I can obtain a replacement installation disk or
download the neccessary installation files?

Better, in the future, that you start your own unique conversation... but...

What type of Windows XP Professional purchase was it? OEM or Retail Boxed?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246

Only useful if you can provide proof of purchase.

If you can get ahold of anyones CD of the same type (and/or if you change
one type of CD so it accepts another type of product key and burn a new CD
out of it) - then you can replace your CD that way.

 

[Gaffer Gill]

Thank you very much. You have been very helpful. I will start a new thread
next time.
I believe that this version is the "retail" version but I received it at the
"Introduction press conference" held at the Marriott Hotel in NYC. It was
given out along with all the other press release information when Mr. Gates
demonstrated XP's new and improved functionality. I think I can find another
disk an make a copy as you suggested in your reply to the original post.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

...

Let me re-phrase:

Can I use any Windows XP install CD and any WinXP product key, providing
both the CD and
the key are for Windows XP Pro retail?

(it's my cousin's product key, and my CD, which are both WinXP Pro retail)

The install key type and the CD type have to match, but in all cases except
for Volume License installs, the install keys have to be different or they
will not activate.

If both were actually retail versions, then you can use her key and your
install CD.

HTH
-pk

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Thank you very much. You have been very helpful. I will start a new
thread
next time.
I believe that this version is the "retail" version but I received it at
the
"Introduction press conference" held at the Marriott Hotel in NYC. It was
given out along with all the other press release information when Mr.
Gates
demonstrated XP's new and improved functionality. I think I can find
another
disk an make a copy as you suggested in your reply to the original post.

I think that promo versions are yet another version, which likely has its
own key type. They aren't that common.

HTH
-pk