Windows XP Home Product Key and Different CD

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Gibbs

Gibbs

Gibbs

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I have a mates laptop here which he needs a fresh install of XP Home. He hasnt got the recovery disk so I said i have a full XP Home OEM Disk.

Now am wondering if i go to install XP with this cd, can i use the product key on his laptop (from the sticker) with my CD and it will install and work ok.

His Product key is vaild as the laptop is only a year old.
 
apparently not, as it verifies as already installed on your PC, you can't legally even install it on another of your own PC's . Microsoft is No disguised swearing! & they wonder why windows is counterfieted
 
Usher said:
apparently not, as it verifies as already installed on your PC, you can't legally even install it on another of your own PC's . Microsoft is S*** & they wonder why windows is counterfieted
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The disk used is entirely irrelevant. You buy a license for the software.

It's perfectly legal and acceptable for you to reinstall the OS onto your friend's laptop using the key from said laptop using whatever disc you wish, whether it came with the laptop or you copied it from a friend in China. It's exactly the same 1s and 0s.

However, the codes printed on laptops from big OEMs are quite often only valid on XP discs specific to the OEM in question (e.g. Dell, HP et al.). So there's a fair chance the code wouldn't actually work. If this is the case, then the OEM should be able to send you a disc for a small fee...
 
It was fine for me (mum's laptop and friends computer) Aslong as the disk is the same Xp version as there serial key you'll be fine (ie. XP HOME OEM using XP HOME SERIAL) I had to phone Microsoft to activate them but they didn't hesistate to give me the CD keys :)
 
I have had to reinstall two machines lately from OEM companies due to hdd failure (Dell and Compaq), they both had Xp home stickers on them and installed fine with an original xp home disc that i had lying around. The only thing was that i had to phone MS to activate them but they just asked if the licence was being used on one machine which they were and they gave me the relevant code to activate them with no problems.

:)
 
csmager said:
The disk used is entirely irrelevant. You buy a license for the software.

It's perfectly legal and acceptable for you to reinstall the OS onto your friend's laptop using the key from said laptop using whatever disc you wish, whether it came with the laptop or you copied it from a friend in China. It's exactly the same 1s and 0s.

However, the codes printed on laptops from big OEMs are quite often only valid on XP discs specific to the OEM in question (e.g. Dell, HP et al.). So there's a fair chance the code wouldn't actually work. If this is the case, then the OEM should be able to send you a disc for a small fee...
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This is correct. Sometimes it won't let you activate automatically via the net, but don't be discouraged, a phonecall will sort that out. As has been said, its licensed and thats the important bit.

Burnsy
 
james.miller said:
umm no. first, you can do that for free and second, thats borderline piracy.
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I thought eBay was against piracy?
So why is it on there?

Its not piracy, the chap wrote the program himself, which all it does is erase all past product keys and downloads so you reactivate and start again
 
james.miller said:
just phone them up and they'll do it.
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OK I have a Windows XP Licence Key which came with my PC and its on the side of my old case, but I do not have a Windows XP CD.

If I ring up Microsoft, will they post me a Windows XP Home CD?
 
stevechapman said:
OK I have a Windows XP Licence Key which came with my PC and its on the side of my old case, but I do not have a Windows XP CD.

If I ring up Microsoft, will they post me a Windows XP Home CD?
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http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

i dont see why not, and give me a chance FFS oh btw, mods frown upon double posting. just edit your existing post, ok? i knew there was a reason i put you on my ignore list.
 
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