Don't have XP pro disc but have XP key.

[de8212]

I know this has probably been covered before but I couldn't find it via search.

I'm trying to help someone out with a laptop with a legitimate Xindows XP key but no XP disc. If I use my original disc that I have for my desktop but enter the laptop's cd key will it work?
Do I dare ask if I can download a copy somehwere? Again, I don't need/want an actual XP key for this, just the disc.
thanks

 

[nweaver]

depends on if the code is OEM, Retail, Retail upgrade, etc

 

[de8212]

Originally posted by: nweaver
depends on if the code is OEM, Retail, Retail upgrade, etc

It's on the bottom of the laptop so I think that would be OEM although I'm not certain. My version is retail so I thought I read somewhere that it won't work but again I've never come across this so I haven't needed to look into it.

 

[KrisC]

It should work fine, and if not, you can call in and tell them what you did and they will give you a new activation code.

 

[de8212]

Here's a bit of an update.

I am trying to install windows now. Things haven't gone so well. Without a long story, I have literally had to switch in between 2 win XP pro cd's throughout the Setup phase. It kept giving me errors saiying it couldn't install "file.ext" and then i would switch cd's. Then it would say it can't install "anotherfile.ext". Switch cd's again, etc.
BTW I don;t remember the exact file names but I know one was winhelp.exe or something of that nature.
It's now on the Installing Windows phase and has been saying 39 minutes for about 15 minutes. The little porgress bar thingy is moving and I hear it accessing the CD plus the message on the right side of the screen changes. SO I don't think it's frozen but I don't know.

 

[Robor]

You sure you don't have some sort of hardware problem (or less likely a bad CDROM but with 2 different ones it's unlikely) going on? Have you tried a different CD/DVD drive? It sure sounds like that could be the problem.

 

[de8212]

Originally posted by: Robor
You sure you don't have some sort of hardware problem (or less likely a bad CDROM but with 2 different ones it's unlikely) going on? Have you tried a different CD/DVD drive? It sure sounds like that could be the problem.

I don't think it's a hardware issue.
I inadvertantly forgot to partition the drive so I am tryiong to start over. This time I am trying to boot off of a know working XP pro cd. Again, this isn't any kind of piracy. I have a cd key. But it's hanging at the boot from CD Screen. Won't go past it at all.
Earlier I used the other XP cd i have and it made it past that but got error (that's when I had to keep switching discs).
I'm just gonna use the otehr disc I guess but the disc I want to use is a slipstreamed one wiht alot of updates, etc. and would save me time.

 

[TG2]

If your CD is retail it likely wont work with the OEM CDKey on the bottom of the laptop

 

[kbi911]

Either its a PCI device or RAM problem or your Disk media is not readable. If your OEM key is not working with the disk you have, it might be due to diffrent OS version. You may find another OEM copy. As per my experience i think it must be related to RAM if the xp key works for you.

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: KrisC
It should work fine, and if not, you can call in and tell them what you did and they will give you a new activation code.

Check the thread I just posted here, I tried what you suggested and it does not work, at least MS does not thing your install is valid. I am looking for a solution to this right now short of downloading a OEM version of windows XP...

-spike

 

[KrisC]

I have a copy or two of every os install disk.

I have never had a problem calling Microsoft with a valid COA ang get activated or validated. Never. I cant count the times I have installed over an OEM machine and used their coa with my disk. Lets just say bunches and bunches. Heck, 30% of the time I dont even have to call.