Windows XP Key Re-Usable?

[nighoftheeighth]

I lost my Windows XP installation disc a while ago and hadn't realised i stuck the product key on the inside of my old case, which I've just rooted out of the garage.

So after buying another £60 version of windows could i have just borrowed another windows xp disc and used my product key?

 

[nighoftheeighth]

IIRC if the original licence was an OEM one then no, it's tied to that individual PC and you can't sell it or install it on another machine. A full XP licence is not so you could use it again.

Hmmn, I'd be putting it on the same machine, the only thing is I need to get another HDD for it. You think it might work?

It's worth a try anyway. Another good reason to back up the discs I own

EDIT: IIRC isn't there 2 versions of OEM? One that ties to a HDD when you buy them together and one that doesn't? I don't know how it works though.