Windows Xp Home re-install

[Dave]

The hard drive on my laptop died. It won't boot and just loops. so, I created
a boot disk and surpise I can read the disk. I am assuming the boot sector
was bad. Next step was to format and reload. It formatted but still won't
boot.

With the price of hard drives I bought a new one and installed. The
challenge now is that over the last 4 years my family has bought 2 Dell
Inspirions and 3 Acers. I have lots of 'Acer ReCovery" media and ONE set of
'Windows XP Home" that I think came with one of the Dell machines. All my
machines have Certificates of Authenticiy and are all XP Home edition. I want
to install on the Dell.

The question is... can I used any Windows install media as long it's XP Home
or do I need to match to the machine. Can I restore using the Acer Recovery
Disks to the Dell as long as I use the Dell Product Key?

 

[peter]

Most machines sold with XP are sold with an XP OEM version that are tied to
the Machine
it came with. You did not mention the specific laptop manufacturer of the
broken Laptop.
The Setup Discs usually also include the hardware drivers for the specific
machine.
If you have the CD set that came with the machine you should be able to
install using the
number on the CofA.
A Dell setup CD might work on another Dell machine but it definitely would
not work on an Acer...and vice versa.
The old HD might have had a recovery partition on it from which the OS would
be installed.

If the copy of XP Home you have is not a branded copy but an honest to
goodness OEM version
then yes you can use. The OEM Activation number on the sticker can only be
used with an OEM version of XP.

peter

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You can only use a Dell OEM product key for Windows XP
with a Dell Windows XP Reinstallation CD.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The hard drive on my laptop died. It won't boot and just loops. so, I created
a boot disk and surpise I can read the disk. I am assuming the boot sector
was bad. Next step was to format and reload. It formatted but still won't
boot.

With the price of hard drives I bought a new one and installed. The
challenge now is that over the last 4 years my family has bought 2 Dell
Inspirions and 3 Acers. I have lots of 'Acer ReCovery" media and ONE set of
'Windows XP Home" that I think came with one of the Dell machines. All my
machines have Certificates of Authenticiy and are all XP Home edition. I want
to install on the Dell.

The question is... can I used any Windows install media as long it's XP Home
or do I need to match to the machine. Can I restore using the Acer Recovery
Disks to the Dell as long as I use the Dell Product Key?

 

[David B.]

Not entirely true, you can use a Dell OEM product key on a standard
Microsoft OEM installation disk as well.

 

[Peter Foldes]

David

There is no Microsoft OEM installation disk. For Microsoft installation disks it is either an Upgrade or Full Retail versions

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

 

[John John (MVP)]

Of course there is, Peter. Small system builders can buy these
Microsoft OEM disks.

John

 

[David B.]

You are incorrect, there is in fact such a disk, system builders use it all
the time.

--

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David

There is no Microsoft OEM installation disk. For Microsoft installation
disks it is either an Upgrade or Full Retail versions

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

 

[Peter Foldes]

John

I agree and I am aware of this. But the OP is not a system builder and this should not have been posted to OP. It can get the OP to look for one which he will not find.

I am saying this because there was an exact case like this posted last year and the OP kept trying to find a MS OEM install disk which he could not.

Just not worth to post things that a poster might not know or misunderstand

This is why I posted that there is no MS OEM disk so as not to chance it again.

 

[David B.]

So you posted false info because you ASSUME the OP would get confused, makes
absolutely NO sense to me. You do not need to be a system builder to
purchase an OEM copy of XP.
Rather than post incorrect info based on your assumptions, why not just
post correct and useful info, any other questions can be answered as they
arise.

--

----
Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Help Us Help You http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm



John

I agree and I am aware of this. But the OP is not a system builder and this
should not have been posted to OP. It can get the OP to look for one which
he will not find.

I am saying this because there was an exact case like this posted last year
and the OP kept trying to find a MS OEM install disk which he could not.

Just not worth to post things that a poster might not know or misunderstand

This is why I posted that there is no MS OEM disk so as not to chance it
again.