reinstalling Xp home (CD lost)

I have lost my CD, but still have the product key from the CD. I need to reinstall Xp.
Can I just borrow someone else's CD to reinstall Xp and then enter the product key
for the CD that I purchased several years ago (rather than the product code on the
borrowed CD)?

If that is not possible, can Microsoft help me or do I need to bite the bullet and
purchase another upgrade Xp CD?

Pegasus
Wed Jul 02 22:40:19 PDT 2008


"Miles" <webmilesremove@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:uM2Am3M3IHA.3508@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>I have lost my CD, but still have the product key from the CD. I need to
>reinstall Xp.
> Can I just borrow someone else's CD to reinstall Xp and then enter the
> product key
> for the CD that I purchased several years ago (rather than the product
> code on the
> borrowed CD)?
>
> If that is not possible, can Microsoft help me or do I need to bite the
> bullet and
> purchase another upgrade Xp CD?
>

Yes, you can borrow someone else's CD or burn a copy of it,
provided that it is the same type (OEM or Retail). If it is the
wrong type then your product key won't work.

John
Thu Jul 03 02:38:01 PDT 2008

I'm having the same problem with XP Pro. The label on the side of the PC I'
re-installing rejected the code when it was entered during the install
process! I'm not sure how to check what type of installation CD is required,
which is a pain!! If anyone can help, please let me know PLEASE!!!
Thanks

"Miles" wrote:

> I have lost my CD, but still have the product key from the CD. I need to reinstall Xp.
> Can I just borrow someone else's CD to reinstall Xp and then enter the product key
> for the CD that I purchased several years ago (rather than the product code on the
> borrowed CD)?
>
> If that is not possible, can Microsoft help me or do I need to bite the bullet and
> purchase another upgrade Xp CD?
>
>
>

HeyBub
Thu Jul 03 04:56:59 PDT 2008

John wrote:
> I'm having the same problem with XP Pro. The label on the side of the
> PC I' re-installing rejected the code when it was entered during the
> install process! I'm not sure how to check what type of installation
> CD is required, which is a pain!! If anyone can help, please let me
> know PLEASE!!!
> Thanks
>

If there's a sticker on the side of the computer, then most assuredly the OS
was an OEM version (on retail versions, the sticker is on the box).

There are two kinds of OEM distributions: Generic and specific. If
"specific," the OEM is tied to the manufacturer/model of the computer,
usually through a BIOS hook of some kind. In that case, you'll have to have
a disk provided by the original manufacturer that can make sense of the
sticker's code.

Ken
Thu Jul 03 10:22:25 PDT 2008

On Thu, 3 Jul 2008 01:30:30 -0400, "Miles" <webmilesremove@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I have lost my CD, but still have the product key from the CD. I need to reinstall Xp.
> Can I just borrow someone else's CD to reinstall Xp and then enter the product key
> for the CD that I purchased several years ago (rather than the product code on the
> borrowed CD)?


Yes. However you need to borrow a CD that matches your key with
respect to Home vs. Professional, Retail vs. OEM, and Full vs.
Upgrade.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
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