Windows XP reinstall, CD-KEY?!

[morguk]

My brother has a sony PC with XP installed.
I want to do a clean install of XP. I have the disk but no CD-KEY.
Can i use the key on the sticker of the back of his PC?
Would it still be genuine and i wouldnt have to buy a new one? Thanks.

 

[morguk]

So in theory if i install windows xp (genuine cd or copied) i can just enter that key when installing and it will all be fine and dandy?

 

[morguk]

Hello morguk, your brother has a Sony branded PC with Windows XP already installed.... Now, would you like to do a clean installation of Windows XP on your brothers system or another system for example, yours?

Sorry I'm slightly confused....

Yes my brother has a sony desktop pc.
On the back it has a sticker with a cd-key.
I would like to do a clean install of windows XP on the sony PC.
I have a windows XP disk that my friend gave me.
Can i use that disk to do a clean install of windows XP on the sony PC.
Ans then use the key on the back of the PC?
Would this therefore be genuine?

Thanks.

 

[morguk]

The key on the sticker will only work for OEM versions of XP, so if your friend has given you a corporate copy etc, then it will say invalid CD Key ...

If you want a genuine Windows install on that machine then you need to either:

1) use the recovery partition to reinstall Windows (comes as standard with most Sonys) - this won't ask for a key
2) Get OEM Windows XP media and try the key on the back ...

Thanks :]