Repair install XP ??

[toolman]

When I help others fix their computers I sometimes need to try a repair
install which I have done many times on my systems but I use retail copies
of XP. However I have come across those with OEM installs of XP. Can I use
the retail version of XP to do a repair install of XP OEM using the OEM
product key? Typically the user does not have install disk of XP but only a
"restore" disk that will bring the computer back to the way it was when it
was sold which would delete any of their data or installed applications
since buying the computer. Aslo is there a way to tell if a computer has
retail or OEM XP installed on it if there is no product key on the computer
case and they have lost all their disks and manuals?

Thanks

 

[Shenan Stanley]

When I help others fix their computers I sometimes need to try a
repair install which I have done many times on my systems but I use
retail copies of XP. However I have come across those with OEM
installs of XP. Can I use the retail version of XP to do a repair
install of XP OEM using the OEM product key? Typically the user
does not have install disk of XP but only a "restore" disk that
will bring the computer back to the way it was when it was sold
which would delete any of their data or installed applications
since buying the computer. Aslo is there a way to tell if a
computer has retail or OEM XP installed on it if there is no
product key on the computer case and they have lost all their disks
and manuals?

You cannot.
You have to use the same type of CD they have.
You need to get ahold of a generic OEM CD.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

When I help others fix their computers I sometimes need to try a
repair install which I have done many times on my systems but I use
retail copies of XP. However I have come across those with OEM
installs of XP. Can I use the retail version of XP to do a repair
install of XP OEM using the OEM product key?

No. Keys have to match the CD with repect to Home vs. Professional, Upgrade
vs. Full, and OEM vs. Retail.

Typically the user does
not have install disk of XP but only a "restore" disk that will bring

I hate those restore disks, and would personally never choose to buy a
computer that came with only such a disk. This is only one of the reasons
why.