Can I use my WinXP CD with someone elses Product Key?

[watdahel]

My buddy has a Dell computer infected with more virii than Paris Hilton. He requested for me to innoculate the thing but I suggested that I do a clean installation of WinXP. However, he has no recovery disk nor a WinXP installation disk. I was wondering if it's OK to use my own WinXP disk along with his Product Key which is printed on the sticker on the side of the chassis? Would that be OK with white wigs at Microsoft? Will it cause problems with the Validation when going to Windows Update?

Also, can I use my WinXP Home disk and use a Product Key for WinXP Pro?

 

[nerp]

Yep, it will work.

Secure the drivers from dell's website first. Then prepare to have to manually activate over the telephone. OEM machines usually fail automatic activation if you install with a non OEM copy of the OS.

 

[John]

Your XP cd needs to be an OEM version for his key to be accepted. It's also possible that he has a Dell recovery partition so you may want to consider using that first.

http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/

 

[watdahel]

So if I use his WinXP Pro Key the installation turns to the Pro version and not Home?

 

[watdahel]

Is it OK to give him a copy of my disk?

 

[Blazer]

xphome key needs xphome disk

xppro key needs xppro disk

yes you can make him a copy but burn it at the slowest speed 2x or 4x

if he ever has to do his own complete reload he will then exercise more caution

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: blazer
xphome key needs xphome disk

xppro key needs xppro disk

Yes, but it's not as simple as that.

An OEM disk will only work with an OEM key.

A retail disk will only work with a retail key.

A volume license disk will only work with a volume license key, etc.

 

[Blazer]

Originally posted by: Noema

Originally posted by: blazer
xphome key needs xphome disk

xppro key needs xppro disk

Yes, but it's not as simple as that.

An OEM disk will only work with an OEM key.

A retail disk will only work with a retail key.

A volume license disk will only work with a volume license key, etc.

he did say it was a dell laptop so it should be oem.

he did not say if it was home or pro.

 

[watdahel]

Here's something very interesting: I have a Dell branded WinXP Home disk. I guess that's an OEM disk. In the disk is an unattended answer file with a Product Key. When I use the disk on the Dell computer the installation never asked me to enter a Product Key and Windows never asked me to activate and Windows Update never asks to validate the installation. Now, when I use the same disk on a Compaq computer the installation does request for me to enter a Product Key. The Product Key in the answer file will not accept. I simply enter the Product Key printed on the side of the Compaq Chassis in this case and everything is fine. Windows also wants to activate the OS afterwards.

 

[Blazer]

Originally posted by: erwin1978
Here's something very interesting: I have a Dell branded WinXP Home disk. I guess that's an OEM disk. In the disk is an unattended answer file with a Product Key. When I use the disk on the Dell computer the installation never asked me to enter a Product Key and Windows never asked me to activate and Windows Update never asks to validate the installation. Now, when I use the same disk on a Compaq computer the installation does request for me to enter a Product Key. The Product Key in the answer file will not accept. I simply enter the Product Key printed on the side of the Compaq Chassis in this case and everything is fine. Windows also wants to activate the OS afterwards.

and now you have an installation on 2 diff computers which is illegal, so expect MS to buck that product key, should have kept my mouth shut.

 

[ForumMaster]

Originally posted by: blazer

Originally posted by: erwin1978
Here's something very interesting: I have a Dell branded WinXP Home disk. I guess that's an OEM disk. In the disk is an unattended answer file with a Product Key. When I use the disk on the Dell computer the installation never asked me to enter a Product Key and Windows never asked me to activate and Windows Update never asks to validate the installation. Now, when I use the same disk on a Compaq computer the installation does request for me to enter a Product Key. The Product Key in the answer file will not accept. I simply enter the Product Key printed on the side of the Compaq Chassis in this case and everything is fine. Windows also wants to activate the OS afterwards.

and now you have an installation on 2 diff computers which is illegal, so expect MS to buck that product key, should have kept my mouth shut.

how so? He installed XP on the dell, and then he used the CD but the compaq key to install XP. why is that illegal?

 

[watdahel]

I was gonna ask the same thing. I thought the CD itself is worthless and the Product Key is what we're paying for?

 

[Blazer]

sorry guys! misread the post, only 1 key active on 1 pc is ok.