Windows XP OEM disk

PhillyDee · 3 Oct 2008 at 20:20

Hallo all,
I have a PC that needs XP Repairing on it. Its an old Dell Dimension 2400 and it has a Windows XP Home Edition sticker on the side. Yes, its a legit install, but his mate seems to have uninstalled half of windows, and not even the system restore works properly. Can I use an ordinary Windows XP Home OEM disk? Or does it have to be the specific Dell branded one? Does anyone near me have a disk they can loan me, or failing that, send me. I can probably find one that came from a Medion PC if I can find it at my brothers, but cannot get there for a few days. Any help is much appreciated!

izzy eckerslike · 3 Oct 2008 at 20:24

How can someone send you their disk so that when windows checks & discovers it's on two different systems at the same time & invalidates it ?

swinnie · 3 Oct 2008 at 20:27

izzy eckerslike said:
How can someone send you their disk so that when windows checks & discovers it's on two different systems at the same time & invalidates it ?

You can use any disk (providing its not an OEM such as Dell using some of their "pooled keys") with an OEM key.

MS just make copies of a "disk image" (essentially) and send them out with a key. All OEM disks are the same (except the ones with integrated service packs).

izzy eckerslike · 3 Oct 2008 at 20:36

When I had a PC a while back the shop went bust & the corporate license they had went with it so suddenly my windows updates failed as it was then shown 'to be not genuine' please contact Microsoft as you may have pirated software ,lol

PhillyDee · 3 Oct 2008 at 22:10

Yup, I have the license key on the case. Otherwise I would not bne asking