Install XP with different product key code?

I'm doing some volunteer work for an organization that supplies
used/refurbished computers to homeless shelters. Part of that work involves
upgrading the OS (say from Windows 98) and upgrading Office as well. In
trying to work on a group of PCs today I discovered the XP disk could not be
read by the PCs. Looking at the disk, the problem was a crack running
through part of the disk rendering it unreadable.

This is a disk supplied by MicroSoft to the organization for the purpose we
are using it for. We have the proper product key codes as well but we can't
use the disk. My guess is the disk has been used so many times that in
handling it someone cracked it. Can I use another XP disk to install the OS
but use the product key code assigned to the organization by MS for the
cracked CD?

Perhaps something in the installation files of the XP disk is looking for a
specific product key. In this case, entering a different, but valid, key
would not work. Does anyone know?

Malke
Thu Feb 21 12:54:06 PST 2008

mad NAT'er wrote:

> I'm doing some volunteer work for an organization that supplies
> used/refurbished computers to homeless shelters. Part of that work
> involves
> upgrading the OS (say from Windows 98) and upgrading Office as well. In
> trying to work on a group of PCs today I discovered the XP disk could not
> be
> read by the PCs. Looking at the disk, the problem was a crack running
> through part of the disk rendering it unreadable.
>
> This is a disk supplied by MicroSoft to the organization for the purpose
> we
> are using it for. We have the proper product key codes as well but we
> can't
> use the disk. My guess is the disk has been used so many times that in
> handling it someone cracked it. Can I use another XP disk to install the
> OS but use the product key code assigned to the organization by MS for the
> cracked CD?
>
> Perhaps something in the installation files of the XP disk is looking for
> a
> specific product key. In this case, entering a different, but valid, key
> would not work. Does anyone know?

You can use a different installation CD as long as it matches the version of
the Product Key - XP Home/Pro retail, Home/Pro/Media Center OEM. Otherwise:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

mad
Fri Feb 22 09:28:24 PST 2008

Thanks. I'll get MS to replace the disk.

"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:uAw8mvMdIHA.5900@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> mad NAT'er wrote:
>
>> I'm doing some volunteer work for an organization that supplies
>> used/refurbished computers to homeless shelters. Part of that work
>> involves
>> upgrading the OS (say from Windows 98) and upgrading Office as well. In
>> trying to work on a group of PCs today I discovered the XP disk could not
>> be
>> read by the PCs. Looking at the disk, the problem was a crack running
>> through part of the disk rendering it unreadable.
>>
>> This is a disk supplied by MicroSoft to the organization for the purpose
>> we
>> are using it for. We have the proper product key codes as well but we
>> can't
>> use the disk. My guess is the disk has been used so many times that in
>> handling it someone cracked it. Can I use another XP disk to install the
>> OS but use the product key code assigned to the organization by MS for
>> the
>> cracked CD?
>>
>> Perhaps something in the installation files of the XP disk is looking for
>> a
>> specific product key. In this case, entering a different, but valid, key
>> would not work. Does anyone know?
>
> You can use a different installation CD as long as it matches the version
> of
> the Product Key - XP Home/Pro retail, Home/Pro/Media Center OEM.
> Otherwise:
>
> How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware -
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> Don't Panic!