Reinstalling XP - mislaid recovery discs - can I use our product key with another XP CD?

[Ian R]

Hi

We have an old XP Home PC made by TIME.

The system has become increasingly unreliable and I'd like to reinstall the
OS.

The only problem is we dont have the TIME recovery discs and the company has
long been out of business.

Is it possible to reinstall the OS using another Windows Home CD?

Would another XP CD accept the product key from the COA label on this TIME
PC?

The COA does not say OEM version. Does that mean I can use an XP CD from say
a Dell PC?

Thanks for any info or suggestions.

Ian

 

[Bob I]

Follow the instructions here(Microsoft does have provisions for out of
business companies)
How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs and
product upgrades, or replace product manuals
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[ln];326246

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

In addition to Bob's reply, you will not be able to use the old product key.
That PK is for an OEM copy of Windows installed by means of a recovery cd
and is not useable with a different XP cd of any type. If the Dell cd were
a retail copy of XP then it could be used with a retail PK to install
Windows but you would still have to have a retail PK. In any case the Dell
cd is likely an OEM cd and not retail.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Hi

We have an old XP Home PC made by TIME.

The system has become increasingly unreliable and I'd like to reinstall
the OS.

The only problem is we dont have the TIME recovery discs and the company
has long been out of business.

Is it possible to reinstall the OS using another Windows Home CD?

Would another XP CD accept the product key from the COA label on this TIME
PC?

It's possible, but ultimately not likely. It's possible when the install
media are identical.

The COA does not say OEM version. Does that mean I can use an XP CD from
say a Dell PC?

In addition, DELL CDs often look for a DELL signature in the system BIOS,
and won't install if they don't see it.

Sorry to say, but you may be looking at purchasing another XP license to fix
this if you don't have the original media.

HTH
-pk