OEM Windows XP on Laptop

[NikolaeVarius]

I have a Lenovo R51e that I reformatted. However, I don't want to use the recovery CD as it comes with a load of stuff that I don't want near my computer. Is there a way to use the product key on the bottom of the laptop to install a clean copy of Windows?

 

[GoodToGo]

Yea you can, you need a clean copy of a Windows thats all. Done before with my T61p.

 

[tcsenter]

See my post in this thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=34&threadid=2232793

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Hmm, damn I already unsintalled it. Im just looking at a clean install now... Its gonna be a pain to install the recovery image..

And GoodtoGo, how did you do it? I've been looking around, and its looks like apparently, you need a retail copy of XP for the code to work, which costs more than OEM, or do you just happen to have a retail copy?

 

[tcsenter]

Retail won't work with OEM keys.