XP Home using XP Pro Key?

[Duane B.]

My neighbor had a hard disk failure on his out of warranty Dell XP Pro box
and he can't find the recovery disk. Can we load up a copy of XP Home that I
have and use his XP Pro key? Will Microsoft validate it?

 

[Nepatsfan]

My neighbor had a hard disk failure on his out of warranty Dell XP Pro box
and he can't find the recovery disk. Can we load up a copy of XP Home that I
have and use his XP Pro key? Will Microsoft validate it?

No, the CD key will only work with the proper installation CD. You would need to
obtain an OEM XP Pro CD to use the key that's on the sticker attached to his
computer.

Take a look at this web site for info on how your friend may be able to order an
installation CD for his Dell.

Request Backup Discs
https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Patrick Keenan]

My neighbor had a hard disk failure on his out of warranty Dell XP Pro box
and he can't find the recovery disk. Can we load up a copy of XP Home that
I
have and use his XP Pro key?

No. This will just not work. The key will be rejected.

Will Microsoft validate it?

No, and the XP installer won't accept the key.

The neighbor's system may have a recovery partition rather than a "recovery
CD". Watch the screen carefully for a mention of this at a power-on start
(not a reboot).

Dell may be able to supply replacement install media, at some cost.

HTH
-pk