Reinstalling XP question

[Doug]

Hello,

I'll try to keep this as short as possible and still make sense. Here
goes... I have a friend who had 6 Dell computers networked at a business.
The business had folded and this friend now has one of these computers to
use at home. It has Windows XP Pro installed. Anyway, this installation of
XP really needs to be reinstalled. It is a mess. I do have the product key
code that is pasted to the side of the machine.

I do not have the original disc for this installation of XP. This person
says after looking everywhere, it can't be found anywhere. I'm sure it is a
legitimate copy of XP installed. At any rate, I've read where you can
reinstall XP without going through the activation if you copy a couple of
folders, and if the hardware hasn't changed. Nothing has changed in this
computer since it's been new, so that's not an issue.

My question is, can I use the copy of Windows XP Home that I have for my
Dell, install it on this machine using their product key found on the side
of the machine? I'm assuming not, especially since my copy is XP Home and
what was originally on this machine is XP Pro. Is there anyway to do this?

Thanks!

 

[kurttrail]

Hello,

I'll try to keep this as short as possible and still make sense. Here
goes... I have a friend who had 6 Dell computers networked at a
business. The business had folded and this friend now has one of
these computers to use at home. It has Windows XP Pro installed.
Anyway, this installation of XP really needs to be reinstalled. It
is a mess. I do have the product key code that is pasted to the side
of the machine.

I do not have the original disc for this installation of XP. This
person says after looking everywhere, it can't be found anywhere.
I'm sure it is a legitimate copy of XP installed. At any rate, I've
read where you can reinstall XP without going through the activation
if you copy a couple of folders, and if the hardware hasn't changed.
Nothing has changed in this computer since it's been new, so that's
not an issue.

My question is, can I use the copy of Windows XP Home that I have for
my Dell, install it on this machine using their product key found on
the side of the machine? I'm assuming not, especially since my copy
is XP Home and what was originally on this machine is XP Pro. Is
there anyway to do this?

Thanks!

No, that won't work, however if you can find someone to "lend" you a
copy of a Dell Pro reinstall disk, then you should be abe to use the PK
that came with your friend's computer, and shouldn't have to activated
it either, as Dell uses a BIOS-Lock to bypass activation.

Failing finding a Dell reinstall CD, then try to find a generic OEM copy
of the XP pro CD, but you will have to activate it, which you may have
to do by phone, though that should be a big deal.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

No, that won't work, however if you can find someone to "lend" you a
copy of a Dell Pro reinstall disk, then you should be abe to use the
PK that came with your friend's computer, and shouldn't have to
activated it either, as Dell uses a BIOS-Lock to bypass activation.

Failing finding a Dell reinstall CD, then try to find a generic OEM
copy of the XP pro CD, but you will have to activate it, which you
may have to do by phone, though that should be a big deal.

He might be able to get a replacement CD from Dell, would be worth a try.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hello,

I'll try to keep this as short as possible and still make sense. Here
goes... I have a friend who had 6 Dell computers networked at a business.
The business had folded and this friend now has one of these computers to
use at home. It has Windows XP Pro installed. Anyway, this installation of
XP really needs to be reinstalled. It is a mess. I do have the product key
code that is pasted to the side of the machine.

I do not have the original disc for this installation of XP. This person
says after looking everywhere, it can't be found anywhere. I'm sure it is a
legitimate copy of XP installed. At any rate, I've read where you can
reinstall XP without going through the activation if you copy a couple of
folders, and if the hardware hasn't changed. Nothing has changed in this
computer since it's been new, so that's not an issue.

My question is, can I use the copy of Windows XP Home that I have for my
Dell, install it on this machine using their product key found on the side
of the machine? I'm assuming not, especially since my copy is XP Home and
what was originally on this machine is XP Pro. Is there anyway to do this?

Thanks!

No, that won't work.

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of
CD/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.

Your friend might be able to get a replacement CD from Dell, or find
someone selling a Dell OEM CD on eBay (shouldn't ever happen, but eBay's
awfully lax about such things). It's also possible that the Dell OEM
Product Key will work with a generic OEM CD, if one can be obtained.


--

Bruce Chambers

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