Win XP installation

[Guest]

Hi, I am currently running an OEM version of XP Home on a Packard Bell
desktop PC, the hard disk needs to be replaced, which means I will have to
re-install XP, the only problem is that I no longer have the back up disks
that came with the PC, though I do still have the product activation code.
Can you tell me if I would be able to install using a non OEM CD version of
XP (which is already installed on my laptop), and use the product code that
belongs to my desktop pc?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Q. "Can you tell me if I would be able to install using a non OEM CD version of XP?"

A. No. A PC manufacturer's OEM Product Key is only valid with the PC manufacturer's restore CD.
Contact Packard Bell support and request new CDs. (http://www.packardbell.com/support/)

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx

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:

| Hi, I am currently running an OEM version of XP Home on a Packard Bell
| desktop PC, the hard disk needs to be replaced, which means I will have to
| re-install XP, the only problem is that I no longer have the back up disks
| that came with the PC, though I do still have the product activation code.
| Can you tell me if I would be able to install using a non OEM CD version of
| XP (which is already installed on my laptop), and use the product code that
| belongs to my desktop pc?

 

[Guest]

See if there is an I386 folder on the hard-disk. If so, this is effectively
the contents of the Windows CD. Burn it to a CD, which needs to be made
bootable witha DOS image, and then run winnt.exe to do the install.

Other that that, on a Packard-Bell I'd suggest looking for a Microsoft OEM
CD, as the PB setup is one of the most heavily-doctored of any OEM Windows,
and contains a ton of foistware, some of which even has the uninstall entries
deliberately removed so you cannot unistall it (!) A genuine install will run
much better.