got XP Home Edition SP1 CD but OEM or retail?

wesley · 28 Mar 2006 at 10:56

hi guys

got XP Home Edition SP1 CD here but how can i tell if its OEM or retail? need to know before install

cheers

PinkPig · 28 Mar 2006 at 11:20

I think the OEM CD will have something like "For distribution with a new PC only" printed on the CD.

wesley · 28 Mar 2006 at 11:31

nothing on XP CD, just saying XP HOME EDITION SP1 by pen

got XP Home Edition licence sticker in back of the laptop

PinkPig · 28 Mar 2006 at 12:07

I'm not sure whether discussing a copy of a Windows CD will really be allowed here, it's a very grey area (possibly even completely illegal), even if you do happen to have a license on your laptop. If you have just burned an illegal copy of Windows and are hoping to use your laptop license key to get it to work I'm fairly sure it won't.

To answer your question I've just had a look at my OEM CD and there's nothing obvious that I can see in the directory structure to mark it as OEM rather than retail.

Brian Stuart · 28 Mar 2006 at 12:35

ASFAIK You can make a copy of XP and use your own license key to install. The CD is irelevent as it it is the license to use the software that you are paying for.
The sticker on the back of the laptop means it is OEM and if the copy of XP is retail then it will not accept the license key when it is imput during install

wesley · 28 Mar 2006 at 12:47

basically the laptop wouldnt boot up anymore and i'm hoping to repair/install over old XP and keep the document folder but need to know if the CD is OEM or retail

Brian Stuart · 28 Mar 2006 at 12:50

There is no way to tell until you do a repair install and it won't accept the license key. that is if the CD is retail. If you know anyone with a OEM CD that will work