Rebuilding a machine with wrong media...

[Guru]

Hi all,

I've got to rebuild a machine for someone who has no media. I've got a volume license CD of XP Pro.

I don't know if theirs is OEM or Volume License, but if I Jelly Bean their machine am I likely to be able to rebuild their machine with MY CD and bang their CD Key in to install it?

If not is there somewhere I can (Legally) download an OEM copy of Windows XP Pro that will allow me to enter their Key?

Thanks,

G

 

[Guru]

I wonder what Pid=55274640 is? That's one I found in a laptop I bought off Ebay.

From what I'm reading here I can just change it to Pid=55274OEM and it will accept the key I got off their existing install?

How does it work with specific vendors? i.e. Dell, HP etc..?

 

[Guru]

Sorry to ask this stupid question and MODs please feel free to delete this but if i "acquire" an OEM WinXP of the internet. Am i still breaking the law? My understanding was that its the key that holds the value. If you install WinXP onto a PC or desktop, it will give you 30 days for activation and that CD-Key is whats the most important part?

That's what I think, I definately wouldn't be asking this if I thought it was illegal. Especially as it is for a client.

 

[Guru]

I'm guessing your client has paid for a whole system and lost the original media CD?

And its got the XP license key on the base or on the side?

Yup, they claim they have no CD on site. I'm still hoping they are wrong and that I'll find the CD that came with the machine in their server room. If not I'll try this changing the PID business. If that doesn't work they can pay for new Media.

 

[Guru]

Do you know or can you discover the current key with Magical Jellybean?
If you can get the key from the old install or a coa sticker then you can install using your vlk media then change the key for the legit one with a tool microsoft supply for just this type of thing.
KeyUpdateTool_enu is the baby you need. I've previously done this on a laptop that had been installed using a student vlk. Simply run the microsoft tool and input the legal key and robert's your mothers brother.

I knew you could do that, but didn't know it worked accross variants of Windows, I just assumed it mean you would use a different key of the same type.

640 = corporate volume licence = illegal copy..

Dirt.

Should have known from the state of the laptop and the state of the place I went to pick it up from. Complete scum.

 

[Guru]

Can you do the PID change on Win 7 too?

Got to install Win 7 on a laptop with no media and wondering if I can use a VL copy but use the CD-KEY off the laptop.