Reinstalling XP Pro

[MrIP]

Hi,

Recently the harddrive in my dad's laptop crashed. I have replaced the
harddrive but I don't have the OEM disc, but I got my hand a XP SP2 disc. To
make a long story short. How can I use the OEM key with the SP2 disc? I
hoping you guy can help. Thanks

Sincerely,

Hoping

 

[sgopus]

Unless the CD contains the OEM version of xp the install key will not be seen
as valid
You will need an OEM version for something like that to work.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Hi,

Recently the harddrive in my dad's laptop crashed. I have replaced the
harddrive but I don't have the OEM disc, but I got my hand a XP SP2 disc.
To
make a long story short. How can I use the OEM key with the SP2 disc? I
hoping you guy can help. Thanks

Sincerely,

Hoping

The answer is likely no. Contact the laptop manufacturer for replacement
install media, or purchase another XP license. Or, see if you can find
someone else with the same model laptop who *does* have the install media,
and make a copy of it.

HTH
-pk

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

In addition to the other comments, if the manufacturer no longer supplies
recovery software try http://www.restoredisks.com/

 

[Touch Base]

Is the XP SP2 disc you have an OEM or retail disk and does the version match
what was on the laptop such as Home or Pro? If it is an OEM disk it should
be fine.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

In addition to the other comments, if the manufacturer no longer supplies
recovery software try http://www.restoredisks.com/

Colin

I'll wager that they charge a bit for that.. ;-)

--
Mike Hall - MVP
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[bbruce]

What I would do if it was me I would take the old HD to HD expert and have
all data that could be recoverd; You would be surpized: If you have thrown it
away some one else will get all the data off it and you have to bye your own
copy of WINXP PRO.