Sony VAIO product key

[Mhollinr]

Can you use a regular XP Home CD (full - not upgrade) to reload the OS with a Sony product key? Or does it need to be the re-install disk that came with the computer?

A friend tried to add another HDD and he used the Seagate software that came with it to transfer to the new drive. Somehow along the way he ended up with two blank hard drives!

I told him the only thing he can do is reload windowws and start over. He does not have any re-install disks and doesn't know if any came with it. He did, however, make a recovery disk when he got it like it told him to. I have that disk but it isn't bootable, it looks like you have to run it from within windows.

I have an XP Home disk and his product key is still stuck to the back of the case. But it says "the CD key you entered is not valid" I'm wondering if it only works with the Sony recovery CD?

Anyone have any thoughts on it?

Thanks

[glc]

OEM keys do not work with retail software. The recovery disk should be bootable unless it's a bad burn.

[Mhollinr]

Thanks, I guess I didn't realize that.

Called Sony and they don't offer recovery disks for that computer anymore. Their advice was to buy a new version of XP Home and after installing it, run the recovery disk I do have.

Apparently there are supposed to be two disks, one to boot with and the one I have, to reinstall to factory condition.

Thanks for the help.