Re: Install Windows with Key different than CD



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

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"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.

.



Relevant Pages

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