Re: (Re-)Installing WinXP on an OEM System - Re: A Techcie Question

"pmj" <post@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:WTqqf.13058$iz3.5209@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> "Old Grizzly" <me@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:40sv3gF1b86gnU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>> My son has a machine built by Alienware with XP so we presume
>> the XP key says its OEM.
>
> Yep, there are various different Product Keys in use for WinXP.
> They each work with different kinds of WinXP & you have to make
> sure to use the right Product Key, that matches the type of WinXP...
>
> Apart from the differences between WinXP Pro & Home Editions,
> there are different Product Keys for Retail (Upgrade & Full
> Install), OEM & Student (Educational) Versions.
>
> So long as the Product Key that you use matches the type of WinXP,
> then it should work OK.
>
> That, of course is a completely separate issue from the fact that
> the Product Key will only work if it hasn't already been used to
> Activate an Installation on another PC.
>
>>... He wants to use his valid key to reinstall XP but without
>> all the Alenware bits,
>
> That should be OK - cos it will be on the same Machine.
>
>>... so it seems we need an OEM disk but in its XP Virgin state
>> (ie not adulterated by any other companies bits), but we could
>> slipstream with SP2 Etc. that he could use with
>> his valid OEM key. Any ideas please?
>
> Has he not got an actual WinXP Install CD supplied with the Machine?

No, only an alienware Installation disk :(

>
> Many OEMs these days only supply a "Recovery CD", (containing
> a "Factory Image") which isn't the same as a proper WinXP Install
> CD, but some OEMs do supply a proper Install CD.
> Some of them have the Manufacturers special Drivers for the
> Hardware on the CD, others are actually just a "Plain Vanilla",
> ordinary Install CD.
>
> If you haven't got an OEM WinXP Install CD, then you can actually
> (in almost all cases), in fact use *any* OEM Install CD!
> :-)
>
> Just borrow one from someone with an OEM Version (make sure that
> it's Home, or Pro, as appropriate) - that's all perfectly Legit
> & Legal & it will Activate OK, so long as you use the Product Key
> for the Machine that it's going onto (7 not the one that it's
> coming from!) & that the *type* of WinXP Install CD that you
> use matches it.

Thats the problem at the moment, trying to find one to borrow, hence my
question

>
> Obviously, you need to make sure to use the correct Product Key
> that was supplied with the *Machine* & not the Product Key Supplied
> with the CD (which would be for another Machine)
>
> You can use the Product Key that is on the Label of the Machine
> (or that is supplied in the Documentation for it).
>

Yes its printed on the inside of the case


> You *used* to be able to use the (OEM) Product Key that is in the
> Registry (Encrypted) of the Machine, when it was Installed at the
> Factory from the "Factory Image", by using a "KeyFinder" Utility
> to Read it from the Registry, but sometimes that won't work when using
> a different CD (M$ changed the way the WPA (windoze Product
> Activation) process works.
>
> But the Product Key on the Label on the Machine (which is actually
> *different* from the Product Key in the Registry of a Factory
> Installed Image) will work OK.
>
> Another way is to just Burn your own Install CD!
> :-)
<snip>
>
> You can make the Install CD Bootable if you want (using a 3rd
> Party Utility, such as Nero Burning Rom, to make a Bootable CD)
> & you can Slipstream ("Integrate") the SP2 Files into it, as well -
> though you should find that the Files in the i386 Folder *already*
> have the WinXP SP2 stuff already Integrated into them.
>

That is the intent, and in addition to that he is trying to use a
program called Nlite that allows you to customise your installation by
not installing all the language files and other items that are not
required hoping he will get a speedier boot.

Thanks pmj
--
Old Grizzly
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was
smiling.
Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling
and everyone around you is crying.


.

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