reformat/install xp home

J

John

I'm looking to reformat my drive and wanting to know
(since my comp didnt come with a xp home disk)if I could
use my sisters Xp home reinstallation disk that came with
her dell. I have a product key on my comp... Just asking
if it could work or not... thanks
 
J

JAX

Your computer should have some method of restoring to original
configuration, that is part of the license agreement with MS. It is probably
a hidden partition on the hard-drive. Check the documentation that came with
your computer or call the vender for instructions on restoring your
computer. ""If"" you were successful in formatting your drive with your
sister's disk, you would still be stuck for a means to install the OS.

LOL, JAX
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

Contact the manufacturer of your PC and ask them
for their recommended method of reinstalling Windows XP.
You cannot use the Dell CD since it will only
install and activate on the Dell PC it came with.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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


| I'm looking to reformat my drive and wanting to know
| (since my comp didnt come with a xp home disk)if I could
| use my sisters Xp home reinstallation disk that came with
| her dell. I have a product key on my comp... Just asking
| if it could work or not... thanks
 
G

Gabe

Well....not necessarily. Legally speaking, no, you can't
do it. I installed my Gateway Windows XP on this Dell
computer, just to see what it was like for about an hour.
It was an OEM version, but it was a "stand alone" OEM
version, meaning Gateway did not altar it to have to be
put on a Gateway system. Of course I didn't go online
because I was nervous as hell. I saw that I would really
like it so I went and bought the OS outright. Grant you,
I am not saying what I did can be construde as "okay", but
in a way it helped me to know that it would be a good
choice to spend the money on it for this computer. So it
is possible, but God help you if you get caught.
 
J

JAX

What is not necessarily so? You may be comparing apples to oranges here.
Your experiment was with an MS OEM disk. It will install to any XP capable
computer. Even if the OP were to be able to install from his sister's disk,
he is still stuck for an OS, as the install would time out after 30 days
because he wouldn't be able to activate it.

JAX
 
G

Guest

Very true. I just didn't know if the disk he has was in
fact a standalone version or the version with the Bios
enhancements, which is usually what prevents it from being
loaded on another system anyway.
 
J

JAX

Thank you, JAX

Very true. I just didn't know if the disk he has was in
fact a standalone version or the version with the Bios
enhancements, which is usually what prevents it from being
loaded on another system anyway.
 
M

Michael Stevens

John said:
I'm looking to reformat my drive and wanting to know
(since my comp didnt come with a xp home disk)if I could
use my sisters Xp home reinstallation disk that came with
her dell. I have a product key on my comp... Just asking
if it could work or not... thanks


Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Format XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/format_XP.htm
--


Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 

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