Re: XP repair question

TimK wrote:
"The Old Man" <Today01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:sNqdnVXUZvmZvOjXnZ2dnUVZ8kydnZ2d@xxxxxxxxx
"Grinder" <grinder@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:_A8dm.212754$DP1.50550@xxxxxxxxxxxx
TimK wrote:
I'm hoping to do a non-destructive repair rather than re-install per: http://pcremix.com/how-to-repair-windows-xp-without-formatting-your-pc/

Trouble is, the CD of XP tat I have isn't the same as what was installed by a computer repair place a couple years ago. When I repair off the new CD, and it asks for a serial number, is giving it the new one going to ruin my day? I have everything backed up but I'm hoping to avoid a complete re-installation.
The actual installer may not matter. If you give it your product key, and it accepts it, you should be ready to be validated after the operation. To reiterate: Don't give it a "new serial number," just use the one that belongs to your current install.
unless the installer had a Volume License which has expired or been cancelled, then the key he has will not work. One never knows if its going to work until one tries it...sorta like a firework.

Sounds like I'm pretty well hosed unless I can get the serial number from the install that scheister used back when the drive died. We even gave him the Dell CD but he used some version he had because it already had SP2, if I remember correctly. I guess what I'll do is just assume a full restore but give it a try with our CD and if it does work great, if not I already prepared for the worst. I wonder if anyone makes 3rd party software that grabs all your settings and programs and reinstalls them after the restore...

Installation discs will generally not have a "serial number"; for OEM installes, that number belongs to the PC. There's basically two ways your last install could have been legitimate:

1) It's an OEM install, and there's a sticker on the PC that has the product key.

2) It's a Retail install, that you purchased, and the product key is with the disc. Given that you would have had to spend a couple of hundred dollars, you would probably keep track of that disc.

Both of those situations would leave you with the product key (serial number) of your *legitimate* copy of Windows. If you don't actually have a Windows license and are just trying to "borrow" a copy Windows, I can understand your dilemma.

Do you actually have rights to a copy of windows or not?

.

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