Will any OEM disc worth with any OEM COA?

[KrillBee]

If I have a computer that has an OEM coa and key on the side of it, (say either 98,98se, 2k, xp, etc) will any cd of the same OS work for reinstallation with that key?

I've heard some keys only work with certain cds and vice versa.

Is this true?

We have other forums for this question.

Mod

 

[bamacre]

You mean, "work?"

Yes, it is true.

 

[ViRGE]

Yes it's true, Dell's stuff is locked to their own CDs, for example.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: ViRGE
Yes it's true, Dell's stuff is locked to their own CDs, for example.

Yup. But the cool thing is that you can install any version of XP on any Dell, as long as it is a Dell branded install CD. And it does not need activation nor registration.

 

[herbiehancock]

I have successfully installed quite a few OEM installs of Win XP using, for instance, a Dell OEM key with a Compaq OEM disc on a home-built PC; or using an HP key with an eMachine OEM CD onto an Acer. It can be done.

Of course, activating the same is another kettle of fish.....very typically, almost all the time actually, the OEM key won't be recognized by the automated MS activation and makes it necessary to talk to a CSR. But the old story of "the motherboard died and we went ahead and did other upgrades at the same time we replaced the motherboard" has yet to fail to get the install activated. 😉

 

[nycxandy]

Worth?

Please fix your thread title.