Sweet, fixed nvm

[StevenNevets]

I manualy killed a zlog trojan. don't need to reformat

 

[TSCrv]

legally, no.... is it possible, yes.... but if you have the cd key for the first computer, meaning you will be using 2 different keys, then it becomes completly legal. but..... if your old pc's cd key is for a raw copy or SP1 copy of xp home it will not work with the sp2 copy of xp... so hope your old os is sp2 and it should work fine, otherwise you woudl have to download an ISO off the net (bit torrent comes to mind) and hope its sp1 or no sp, and use your legit key on it to load,... then you have to worry about microsoft activation, it might work over the net for the old key, but chances are you wil have to call them to activate.

id pick pro instead of home though

 

[StevenNevets]

How do I find my key and figure out of I'm on SP1 or SP2 then

 

[TG2]

1 - is your computer XP Home OEM?
2 - no, you cant buy that from Newegg and use it on both computers, 1 license = 1 computer
3 - If your current computer is XP Home OEM, you can buy that from newegg and use it to install on the new computer your building and then use a keyfinder, (magicaljellybean) and then reinstall onto your old computer using the new CD form newegg and the cdkey from the keyfinder.

 

[Lord Evermore]

Actually depending on your exact situation, it might be possible. If that computer you have originally came with WinXP Home SP2 already installed, then you can use this disk to reinstall it, and use the OEM CD key that should be on the sticker on the side of the computer (or in a drawer somewhere with the other documentation). Then you use the CD Key that comes with this disk to install it on your new machine. In this case, both copies are legal installations, you just used one disk which there's nothing wrong with. The CD doesn't care what key is used.

If the original computer didn't come with SP2 OEM version already installed, maybe it only had SP1, then I don't think that it will work. If of course you have the license key for it, then you can try to get hold of an SP1 install disk and install it, again that's completely legal, it doesn't have to be your original disk if you're using your legitimate license key.

TG2 pretty much said the same thing, I elaborated.

 

[nweaver]

I'm not understanding what SP levels had to do with reinstalling...

illegal keys were the only ones blocked in SP2, so as long as the OP is legit, it shouldn't matter. Find the key, do the reinstall, activate, nothing too fancy

 

[StevenNevets]

So does SP1 or SP2 matter or not
and I'm not sure if it's XP Home OEM or not (it was a Dell)
and you're saying the key would be on the computer or with the purchase documents?

 

[Lord Evermore]

Originally posted by: nweaver
I'm not understanding what SP levels had to do with reinstalling...

illegal keys were the only ones blocked in SP2, so as long as the OP is legit, it shouldn't matter. Find the key, do the reinstall, activate, nothing too fancy

I'm just guessing that a disc with SP2 already integrated MIGHT not be installable with a CD key that was issued with an SP1 copy. Even though illegal keys were the only ones blocked, it could still recognize keys based on what ranges were being used after a certain point. Just a guess.

 

[Lord Evermore]

Originally posted by: StevenNevets
So does SP1 or SP2 matter or not
and I'm not sure if it's XP Home OEM or not (it was a Dell)
and you're saying the key would be on the computer or with the purchase documents?

I've never looked into whether it matters what SP version is already integrated into the disc, to me it's a possibility that an SP2 disc might not accept the range of keys that were assigned pre-SP2, but it may well not do that. I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to do such a thing, even though it would only save them bandwidth from people not having to download SP2.

If it came with a Dell, it's an OEM copy. The license key will be on a sticker on the back or side of the case. When you buy an OEM version separately, the sticker is included on its peel-off backing.

 

[Lord Evermore]

Oh, and it's rude to wipe out your original post when there've been several replies. Just update it with a note that you resolved the problem.

 

[StevenNevets]

sorry to waste your time, I was excited when I finaly killed the beast I didn't think to note it