Windows XP Pro COA

[Guest]

Hi,
I just purchased a used PC from the company that I work for.
the stipulation was that I reinstall windows XP so no company information
would be on the Hard drive.
The office manager that I got the machine from said that he thaught I could
still use the COA sticker that was on the side of the machine.
I used the CD that I installed the Windows XP Professional on to my other Pc
to reinstall on the newer Pc.
All loads fine till I get to the COA Entry screen.
It says that the # is not valid.
We were running this COA on the computer at work.
Is there a difference in the CD's? Meaning my retail Cd and the Cd that was
used when it was installed at the company.
Can I even use the COA??
Windows XP Pro is very expensive and I hope that I will not have to purchase
another copy.
Thanks soo much for any help.
Tj

 

[Richard Urban]

There are many different types of CD's. You have Home Edition, Professional
Edition, Home Edition O.E.M., Professional Edition O.E.M. and so on.

You need to use the CD that came with the computer as your computer is
likely an O.E.M. computer (Dell, HP, Compaq etc).

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

The Product Key on the sticker is likely an OEM key, and it will not work
with a retail version as they are not interchangeable. You would need to use
the OEM version originally supplied by the system vendor to your company or
a retail Product Key.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Your have to contact the manufacturer of your PC
and order their Windows XP Recovery or Reinstalltion
CD.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,
I just purchased a used PC from the company that I work for.
the stipulation was that I reinstall windows XP so no company information
would be on the Hard drive.
The office manager that I got the machine from said that he thaught I could
still use the COA sticker that was on the side of the machine.

And that would have been the case, had he also provided you with the
OEM installation CD that originally came with the computer, and to which
that particular Product Key belongs.

I used the CD that I installed the Windows XP Professional on to my other Pc
to reinstall on the newer Pc.
All loads fine till I get to the COA Entry screen.
It says that the # is not valid.
We were running this COA on the computer at work.
Is there a difference in the CD's? Meaning my retail Cd and the Cd that was
used when it was installed at the company.

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.

Can I even use the COA??

If you obtain either the original OEM installation CD, definitely. If
you purchase or otherwise obtain a generic, unbranded OEM installation
CD, very probably.

Windows XP Pro is very expensive and I hope that I will not have to purchase
another copy.

Well, you don't have to use WinXP on the computer; that's simply a
matter of your personal choice. There are many free operating systems
available (mostly various distros of Linux) from which to choose. If
you can afford two computers, you can afford two operating system
licenses. Conversely, if you trully cannot afford two OS licenses, you
cannot afford two computers.


--

Bruce Chambers

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[Guest]

Hi,
The pc was custom built by a computer shop.
I am not sure who built it.
Thanks,
Tj

 

[GHalleck]

Hi,
The pc was custom built by a computer shop.
I am not sure who built it.
Thanks,
Tj

In the off-chance that the custom builder used a "generic"
Windows XP OEM installation cdrom, buying your own copy of
the exact same version might work with the COA on the case.
In fact, having this copy and manually editing the original
company's information from the Registry just might fulfil the
stipulation demanded by the seller. And also note that the
COA is permanently linked to the machine.