XP Licence question
Discussion
My father purchased a laptop a few years ago when XP was first released, it's made by NEC and was purchased from a major PC retailer complete with the usual software package etc.
He put all the XP discs, backup software etc in the box the laptop came in and stored them away in the attic.
His computer is now running very slowly and I'd like to do a fresh install of XP. When I went to hunt down the XP install discs we found my mother had helpfully thrown the whole box including the CD's !!
Now, we obviously do have a licence for XP (Its stuck to the underside of the laptop), just not the CD. I know for £59 I can purchase a new CD/Licence for XP Home, but as I have the licence already can I just buy a CD (no licence key) from eBay for a couple of quid and then install it using the licence key we have stuck to the laptop?
£59 is not exactly a lot of money but it's 2/3 a tank of fuel!
He put all the XP discs, backup software etc in the box the laptop came in and stored them away in the attic.
His computer is now running very slowly and I'd like to do a fresh install of XP. When I went to hunt down the XP install discs we found my mother had helpfully thrown the whole box including the CD's !!
Now, we obviously do have a licence for XP (Its stuck to the underside of the laptop), just not the CD. I know for £59 I can purchase a new CD/Licence for XP Home, but as I have the licence already can I just buy a CD (no licence key) from eBay for a couple of quid and then install it using the licence key we have stuck to the laptop?
£59 is not exactly a lot of money but it's 2/3 a tank of fuel!
jimlad71 said:
Do you know if the laptop has a recovery partition?
If it has if you press F12 before the Windows splash screen appears it will reinstall the OS from the recovery partition
HTH
Jim
If it has if you press F12 before the Windows splash screen appears it will reinstall the OS from the recovery partition
HTH
Jim
And wipe everything to bring it back to factory spec. Best thing is to remove that image and start afresh since image files and "recovery CD's" are just evil....
Regards
Popolou
cliffe_mafia said:
Make sure you get exactly the same flavour of XP though - Pro/Home SP1/SP2, etc or it won't work.
SP1/SP2 won't matter - however Pro/Home DOES and you must also make sure you use an OEM CD, not a Retail (i.e. shrinkwrapped, off the shelf) or Corporate/VLK one.
If your workplace has an IT department I would ask the guys there - they probably throw away an OEM CD for every laptop/desktop they buy.
The problem is that the key on the underside will most likely be an OEM one. This means that the key won't actually work with a shop brought version, but the shop one will have it's own key.
Now, as you have the laptop and thus the sticker you have a license to use, which is all Microsoft really care about (the media is not the license nor a prerequisite for being licensed)... their is little to stop you going to the more dubious areas of the internet, downloading a Windows XP OEM disc image (of the correct type) and using that key on it... should work and be legal (or far enough in the grey area to not matter). To be honest, someone doing you a copy of their version would also be in the same area.
Alternatively, contact the company who made the laptop and ask them how much for a copy of the CD. Shouldn't be all that much to be honest, unless they try to flog you another license as well.
Now, as you have the laptop and thus the sticker you have a license to use, which is all Microsoft really care about (the media is not the license nor a prerequisite for being licensed)... their is little to stop you going to the more dubious areas of the internet, downloading a Windows XP OEM disc image (of the correct type) and using that key on it... should work and be legal (or far enough in the grey area to not matter). To be honest, someone doing you a copy of their version would also be in the same area.
Alternatively, contact the company who made the laptop and ask them how much for a copy of the CD. Shouldn't be all that much to be honest, unless they try to flog you another license as well.
ThePassenger said:
The problem is that the key on the underside will most likely be an OEM one. This means that the key won't actually work with a shop brought version,...
I reinstall all the time using shop cds and oem keys, just call them up and explain you've done a re-install and they'll issue you a new key as they can see yours is genuine
Silent1 said:
ThePassenger said:
The problem is that the key on the underside will most likely be an OEM one. This means that the key won't actually work with a shop brought version,...
I reinstall all the time using shop cds and oem keys, just call them up and explain you've done a re-install and they'll issue you a new key as they can see yours is genuine
Really? Never knew that. So, looks like the OP's problems are sorted every which way
Philbes said:
Can't you borrow a XP installation CD from someone? Don't think I should mention copies of XP installation CDs!
Copies of XP installer discs are not illegal, it's the COA (certificate of authentication) that proves you have the right to use that software. Most OEM PCs don't come with original CDs, they do have a COA and software to create your own recovery disc, which is effectively making your own copy of a Windows XP installer that will only run on a PC of the same model type as your own. Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff