XP Clean Install - Validation Media

axel · 25 Mar 2007 at 16:53

My son's computer is refusing to boot despite trying everything, including last good config, systenm restore, recovery consol, etc. It even froze while trying to reinstall XP on top of itself and now I cannot even boot into safe mode as it keeps reverting to the Windows setup programme and freezing.

It looks as if a clean install is the only option. I have 2 copies of XP, one upgrade I bought in 2003 and an OEM version that came with my new computer last year.

If I use the upgrade version I believe it will ask for validation media. I do not have any old copies of Windows. I only ever bought Windows 95 full version, then the Win98 upgrade followed by the XP upgrade. The old Win95 and Win98 disks have been thrown out long ago.

Is there a way round this? Can I use the OEM version which came with my new computer or is that breaking the licence agreement?

Axel

Meatball · 25 Mar 2007 at 17:17

axel said:
My son's computer is refusing to boot despite trying everything, including last good config, systenm restore, recovery consol, etc. It even froze while trying to reinstall XP on top of itself and now I cannot even boot into safe mode as it keeps reverting to the Windows setup programme and freezing.

It looks as if a clean install is the only option. I have 2 copies of XP, one upgrade I bought in 2003 and an OEM version that came with my new computer last year.

If I use the upgrade version I believe it will ask for validation media. I do not have any old copies of Windows. I only ever bought Windows 95 full version, then the Win98 upgrade followed by the XP upgrade. The old Win95 and Win98 disks have been thrown out long ago.

Is there a way round this? Can I use the OEM version which came with my new computer or is that breaking the licence agreement?

Axel

You can use your OEM copy as long as it's for the same O/S, e.g You MUST use a Windows XP Home OEM disk with an XP HOME OEM Serial key. When installing using your disk all you need to do is enter the serial key on your sons COA and you'll be fine. There might be a problem if the disk is hardware coded, if it's a dell branded XP disk it most likely is and wont accept your serial key.

axel · 25 Mar 2007 at 17:24

Yes, I have taken another look and the disc that came with my new PC is in fact a "recovery disk" which I think might be different from and OEM and may not work?

Axel

d.chatten · 26 Mar 2007 at 00:16

If a version of Windows 98 (SE, i think) or above was previously installed on the system in question then you would'nt need a CD to validate (OEM or Retail), Windows XP text mode setup searches the HDDs for current installs of Windows, it will use the current install to validate the upgrade, this eliminates the need for CD validation.