Missing XP Disk

[shoops9]

A while back a friend of mine bought a refurbished E-machine. He got some virus so I was going to Format the HD and reinstall XP. He doesnt have any disk for the computer so I was just going to use one of my old XP disks and use his key but when I do that it says it is an invalid product key.

Is there anyway to install windows and use his key with my disk? Or any other way to get it back up and running with his key. It's a legit MS key. Do the Disks only work with the key that came with them? I re-entered the key many times just to make sure it wasn't a miss type.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Gillbot]

You need to match it. Are you using an OEM disc?

 

[Bubbaleone]

If his e-machine came with XP pre-installed, then the product key that's on his case sticker is an OEM key. If your "old XP disks" is a retail release, or an OEM release from a manufacturer other than e-machine, then his product key won't work.

OEM product keys are manufacturer and operating system specific ie; a Dell OEM "XP Home" version product key will only be valid on Dell products that came with a "XP Home" version preinstalled and you have a Dell "XP Home" installation CD.

 

[Paperlantern]

If his e-machine came with XP pre-installed, then the product key that's on his case sticker is an OEM key. If your "old XP disks" is a retail release, or an OEM release from a manufacturer other than e-machine, then his product key won't work.

OEM product keys are manufacturer and operating system specific ie; a Dell OEM "XP Home" version product key will only be valid on Dell products that came with a "XP Home" version preinstalled and you have a Dell "XP Home" installation CD.

In my experience this is not always the case. Ive used a Dell XP CD to install XP Pro on a Tecra that had its own XP Pro key and it worked fine. Ive done it with other combinations as well, so in my experience, XP Pro OEM, is XP Pro OEM. Which should mean Home OEM is Home OEM.

 

[shoops9]

His E-Machine came with XP home installed on it. When I tried using my disk, the one that didn't work was an XP Home upgrade disk. Its the first one I found in my stack of old stuff. I do have an OEM XP Home disk that I could try tomorrow. Any chance that disk will work with his key? And if not what are my options to get him back up and running?

Thanks again!

 

[Bubbaleone]

Paperlantern makes an excellent point, and I should have been clearer in my first response...this should help:

There are two types of OEM CDs:

1) Branded: An OEM version created by a system manufacturer. These copies are usually "BIOS-locked", and can only be used on the exact machines they were created for. The product key is only valid for this machine configuration.

2a) Unbranded: A Microsoft "FULL OEM" CD contains the same program as the Retail Box version. These may or may not be provided with a factory-built machine, but are usually purchased separately for installation on a home-built machine. This CD and product key may be installed on any IBM-compatible machine.

2b) Unbranded: A Microsoft "FULL OEM DSP" CD stands for “Delivery Service Partner”. DSP software is similar to FULL OEM software, but DSP is more generic and normally would have no manufacturer’s name stamped on the manual or printed on the license. Like OEM versions, DSP versions contain the same program as the Retail Box version. This CD and product key may be installed on any IBM-compatible machine.


Unbranded Microsoft OEM software is a full version which includes the CD, the Certificate of Authenticity (COA), and the product key codes. ALL unbranded OEM copies can only be installed clean: the hard drive must be formatted before XP OEM can be installed.

So to best answer your question: "Any chance that disk will work with his key?" His key will work only if it's an "unbranded" OEM XP Home key. You may want to Google about other options, as I don't want to get into that grey area known as copyright infringement....:whiste:

 

[Meghan54]

Paperlantern makes an excellent point, and I should have been clearer in my first response...this should help:

There are two types of OEM CDs:

1) Branded: An OEM version created by a system manufacturer. These copies are usually "BIOS-locked", and can only be used on the exact machines they were created for. The product key is only valid for this machine configuration.

2a) Unbranded: A Microsoft "FULL OEM" CD contains the same program as the Retail Box version. These may or may not be provided with a factory-built machine, but are usually purchased separately for installation on a home-built machine. This CD and product key may be installed on any IBM-compatible machine.

2b) Unbranded: A Microsoft "FULL OEM DSP" CD stands for “Delivery Service Partner”. DSP software is similar to FULL OEM software, but DSP is more generic and normally would have no manufacturer’s name stamped on the manual or printed on the license. Like OEM versions, DSP versions contain the same program as the Retail Box version. This CD and product key may be installed on any IBM-compatible machine.


Unbranded Microsoft OEM software is a full version which includes the CD, the Certificate of Authenticity (COA), and the product key codes. ALL unbranded OEM copies can only be installed clean: the hard drive must be formatted before XP OEM can be installed.

So to best answer your question: "Any chance that disk will work with his key?" His key will work only if it's an "unbranded" OEM XP Home key. You may want to Google about other options, as I don't want to get into that grey area known as copyright infringement....:whiste:

I think you're still incorrect about #1.

I have a stack of branded Dell OEM XP Pro discs, and have successfully used them on all sorts of machines, home built and pre-built other than Dell, using a COA/key from another brand.

For instance, I just last week used a set of 19 Dell branded OEM discs to reinstall XP Pro on a batch of Lenovo T61 laptops using the Lenovo COA/key as its input during install.

Now, each machine failed validation because the key wasn't "listed" at Microsoft as a valid key, but a phone call to activate solved the problem every time.

An example of the COA/key I used on the install:

The XP Pro discs I used to reinstall the OS on the Thinkpad T61s:

Notice the disc is Dell branded. And while it is not BIOS "locked", as you put it, the OS is BIOS aware, which means the OS won't ask for a key input nor try to activate over the internet if installed on the "proper" Dell motherboard/system with the "proper" BIOS. But if it's installed on an "incorrect" motherboard with an "incorrect" BIOS, it then wants a key during installation and has to activate over the internet after install.

 

[Steltek]

I think you're still incorrect about #1.

I have a stack of branded Dell OEM XP Pro discs, and have successfully used them on all sorts of machines, home built and pre-built other than Dell, using a COA/key from another brand.

For instance, I just last week used a set of 19 Dell branded OEM discs to reinstall XP Pro on a batch of Lenovo T61 laptops using the Lenovo COA/key as its input during install.

Now, each machine failed validation because the key wasn't "listed" at Microsoft as a valid key, but a phone call to activate solved the problem every time.

An example of the COA/key I used on the install:






The XP Pro discs I used to reinstall the OS on the Thinkpad T61s:






Notice the disc is Dell branded. And while it is not BIOS "locked", as you put it, the OS is BIOS aware, which means the OS won't ask for a key input nor try to activate over the internet if installed on the "proper" Dell motherboard/system with the "proper" BIOS. But if it's installed on an "incorrect" motherboard with an "incorrect" BIOS, it then wants a key during installation and has to activate over the internet after install.

Not a good idea to be posting your product key on the site - somebody might steal it.

I'd remove it if I were you....

 

[Paperlantern]

Not a good idea to be posting your product key on the site - somebody might steal it.

I'd remove it if I were you....

Its not there... it wasn't posted

and i agree with meghan on this one... I've never had an issue using a "XP PRO OEM" install disc, any "OEM" key will allow you to use the OEM install of XP from those discs. Basically any "key sticker" from the side or underside of ANY major brand machine will work on ANY OEM install disc, just depends on if it will ask for the key if its not of the same brand.

*shrug*