Re: Install Windows with Key different than CD

peter wrote:
using the product key that you now have you can install any XP
pro...retail.........not OEM.
Check with your friends to see if they have a retail version of XP
Pro... Having no friends or them not having a Retail version of XP
Pro leaves you no choice but to purchase one...
Silly of you to have "lost" the original........
peter


"nicnat" <abc@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:9qa8k.13631$s77.11419@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I've read this can be done but I haven't actually seen it done and
now I have the need to do so myself. I want to rebuild my aging
desktop which I built a few years ago (single core CPU, pre 2.x USB,
relatively small HDs) but I don't have the XP Pro Retail
installation CDs any longer. I can get the product key via several
utilities. If I'm able to borrow or download XP Pro Retail CDs, can
I install windows using the key I purchased already? Will this work?
If so, has anyone got ideas on where I might obtain the XP Pro
retail CDs? I totally want to avoid having to purchase the OS again
and I'm not interested in going to Vista at this time. XP Pro is
fine with me. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for your post. I didn't lose the original CDs. My lovely ex-wife
through them away. I have no friends with XP Pro Retail. I have been
searching for downloads via torrent or eMule. Do I have to get a version
with no SPs included? The version I originally purchased was without SP.
If I use an updated SP3 version will my key still work? Again, thanks.


.

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