Spare Dell XP OS

[Weatherlawyer]

Hi.

I have a Dell XP home edition OS CD (SP 2 and all that, if it helps.)

It was a spare after someone upgraded to Vista I think. Anyway,
presuming the copy is legitimate and I can install it on an old
computer, is it possible to get a number for it, or is it a coaster?

I don't want dodgy warez, just a civil reply will suffice.

 

[Tony Meloche]

Hi.

I have a Dell XP home edition OS CD (SP 2 and all that, if it helps.)

It was a spare after someone upgraded to Vista I think. Anyway,
presuming the copy is legitimate and I can install it on an old
computer, is it possible to get a number for it, or is it a coaster?

I don't want dodgy warez, just a civil reply will suffice.

I can't give you an absolute answer, but the likely answer is: "No, you
can't".

OEM system CD's are matched to a manufacturer's particular system (or
range of 3-4 systems in that "family"). It is very unlikely it would
install on another computer randomly. Only a copy of XP you buy at the
software store will do that.

Assuming you could get a decent install on another computer (doubtful,
as I said, if not impossible), then you'd have a heckuva time convincing
the Microsoft tech person on the phone to give you the code numbers -
they're awfully fussy about that.

As I began - that's not an absolute answer, but a very likely answer.
I'd think in terms of "coaster".

Tony

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

I have a Dell XP home edition OS CD (SP 2 and all that, if it helps.)

It was a spare after someone upgraded to Vista I think. Anyway,
presuming the copy is legitimate and I can install it on an old
computer, is it possible to get a number for it, or is it a coaster?

I don't want dodgy warez, just a civil reply will suffice.

So long as the Vista version was a full install and not an upgrade
version. You can transfer the XP to another Dell only as Dell
restricts the OEM XP CD to their machines.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[NoConsequence]

Hi.

I have a Dell XP home edition OS CD (SP 2 and all that, if it helps.)

It was a spare after someone upgraded to Vista I think. Anyway,
presuming the copy is legitimate and I can install it on an old
computer, is it possible to get a number for it, or is it a coaster?

I don't want dodgy warez, just a civil reply will suffice.

Sure. Find the computer it came with and get the Key off the product
sticker on the case. It's tied to that computer and isn't legally
loadable on any other computer, since it is an OEM copy.