Re: XP Pro SP2 disk

On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 22:04:30 +0200, "RobDee" <robd@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Well, I have such a CD from dubious origins (its a CD-R) and I was wondering
>myself if I could use this to reinstall XP pro on my Thinkpad and when asked
>for the product key I could use the one from my current installation?
>If you or anyone else can confirm this will work, I'll go ahead and
>reinstall. ...

Well, I can clarify this for you. The OEM CD will not work with a
CD-KEY from a different manufacturer. I once accidentally used a Dell
CD to re-install on a ThinkPad, and it took me a couple hours on the
phone with MS to get the thing activated. The only reason I could get
it activated was that I also had a Volume License Key, but the media
was in a different office.

Now, for more clarification for you:
an OEM key will only work with a CD from the same OEM
an OEM key will not work with a Retail CD
a Retail key will not work with an OEM CD
a VL key will not work with an OEM CD
a VL key will not work with a Retail CD
an OEM key will not work with a VL CD
a Retail key will not work with a VL CD
(This last one might not be true, as you can use a Retail key with a
volume license CD for Office).

When installing an OEM copy, the CD actually does some form of
checking to see if the hardware is from the proper vendor, and if it
is, you usually don't need to enter the OEM key. In this case, you
also may not need to activate your installation on that hardware. If
the hardware is from a different vendor, you may be forced to enter a
key, and if the key is not from the same vendor, you will have to
activate, and you will almost always have trouble activating. When
you use a VL key on a VL CD, then you don't have to activate the
product (at least through XP, and Server 2003).

With a ThinkPad, you can get the recovery CD's from IBM/Lenovo for
about $60 (shipped in the US), or they send them to you for free if
your HD is replaced under warrantee.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Windows XP Licience
    ... or Hardware http://support.microsoft.com/?id=326246 ... For an OEM version contact the vendor from which you purchased it to ... he'll need Proof of Purchase. ... Also in some cases, such as when the OEM has gone out of business, MS will help with replacement. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Help!!! I lost my XP disk
    ... I am afraid I may have to do the obvious and just spend another ... How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware ... If it's OEM you'll need to contact the vendor you got it from. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Help! Lost Product Key
    ... The vendor I purchased the software from told me to ... Microsoft can reference that to the assigned CD Key? ... >> I recently purchased an OEM version of Windows XP ... >> another $1800 on hardware for the new hardware on which ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Windows XP Licience
    ... or Hardware http://support.microsoft.com/?id=326246 ... For an OEM version contact the vendor from which you purchased it to ... he'll need Proof of Purchase. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: MS Licensing
    ... You might consider upgrading the hardware in those computers having the ... OEM installs of Windows. ... HARDWARE is a single computer system, or shall mean the computer system ... drive and then upgrade it. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)