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Windows XP install question

M

mongoloido

Junior Member
Here's the situation:

- I've recently built my first computer (very cool experience. still not very smart, but learning more every day).

- For that computer, I have purchased and installed XP pro with service pack 2.

- My old computer is still very serviceable, so I'd like to clean it up and give it to my brother so he can play games online with me.

- The old computer came with XP pro installed and a recovery CDROM (not an xp pro CD)

- The recovery CD has (I believe, no service pack 1 or service pack 2)

- On the side of my old computer, I have the swanky sticker with my legal product key.

- I could have sworn I read that windows update would no longer work without service pack 1 installed (makes it tough to get service pack 1, doesn't it?)


So I would prefer to simply format the C drive on the old computer, put the XP pro CD with service pack 2 (from my new computer), and use the product key from my old computer on my old computer. This seems easy and a great way to avoid a lot of the windows update hassles.


Can I do that? Will windows care that the product key came with an XP pro without service pack 2? Does windows need a product key and a specific CD to match? Can Gilligan and the Skipper ever hook up with MaryAnne and Ginger?

These questions concern me. Especially if it means I back myself into a format and install that won't work because of a product key problem. Any help and insight would be appreciated.
 
It might work and it might not. If you have an OEM copy of XP I think there is a better chance of it working. The important part is really using different keys for each machine. Good luck.
 
I think there are 2 different types of keys: Volume License and OEM/Retail. I have never had a problem installing retail XP Pro from my MSDN Retail XP CD and using the OEM sticker, but ymmv.

Volume license CD w/oem key will not work.
 
Thanks guys. Looks like I should go the recovery route and see where that takes me. The format/install sounds like a last option for me.
 
If you have a fast internet connection, you could just download the whole SP2 kit and caboodle from MS. Shove it onto cd, then if it comes to a reinstall, at least you have sp2 to hand.
 
There are 3 version of keys: retail, oem, and VLA. You cannot use the key from one version with another.

On the Winxp cd, there is a file called "setupp.ini" in the i386 directory. There is a line PID=. The last 3 digits will tell you what version it is.

oem=oem

335=retail

270=Vla
 
I have an OEM and a 270 but the academic and a store bought retail upgrade cd are listed as Pid=55276000. Odd.

Anyway, thanks for the info jack.

 
It should work, I just installed XP with SP 2 and because I ahd in on tooo may computers It denied my activation.
so I waited a few days and used a code from my first XP disk that did not support SP1 even.

Try it
 
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