Windows Product Key Questions

[DaveC]

I recently bought a used computer with XP Pro & no recovery CD but there is an XP Pro product key label on the PC case. The OS has become corrupted & needs to be reinstalled but it appears I won't be able to do it myself this time since I only have an OEM XP Home CD. If that's true then how are computer repair shops able to reinstall the same Microsoft operating system on all the computers that they reformat? I presume they enter the product keys from the labels on the computer cases when possible but I thought WGA detects the installed product key info & current hardware & compares it with the hardware originally registered with it & also compares the detected product key with the key info typed in. Do the shops purchase an unlimited or unrestricted license for each OS version? One last question, although I think I know the answer: is there any way I can successfully install my copy of XP Home on this computer? TIA.

[Garyfl]

I'm not an expert but I think you will have to borrow a Windows XP pro CD from one of your friends and then do a repair install using your key numbers that are on the machine.

[mjkovis]

You may only install that OS on one computer per each individual license. If you already have a license, but no discs you may use someone else's CD or DVD with the matching OS to reinstall or repair your OS version. Many techs have their own extra copies of OS discs so that they do not have to worry about running into this problem when a customer is missing theirs. Once again, they are restricted to only being able to install one license on one PC, but they may reuse the discs if someone has their license still.

If you still can, borrow a friend or family members WinXP Pro CD (if available) and do your reinstallation or repair.

[glc]

Are you sure it doesn't have a recovery partition? Most name brand computers these days do.

You can certainly install XP Home on it, but you will need the product key that came with the XP Home.

NOTE: Speaking of name brands - if this is a Dell, you can install ANY version of Windows on it if you can borrow ANY Dell reinstallation CD. A key will not be required, all the CD has to see is a Dell bios. The Dell reinstallation CD's are generic loads, you will need to download all needed drivers. This is not necessarily legal, but it CAN be done. I redid my nephew's Dell that came with Vista Basic with XP Pro that way..............

[DaveC]

After reading your replies I borrowed a copy of XP Pro from a friend & tried reinstalling it using the product key label on the computer case & it worked without a hitch. The label on the case is actually a license but I didn't trust Microsoft to honor it; I fully expected them to find a loophole that disqualified me. Incidentally, I opted to reinstall XP over the original partition so as to overwrite everything. Thanks for the advice. Regards.

Dave

[chuck4456]

If it's the disc that came with the unit, the product key on the sticker on the case will work.

[DaveC]

That was the problem, Chuck, I brought this computer used & didn't get an XP installition/recovery CD with it. If I had the CD that came with it I could either enter the product key from the CD case [if it was still there] or the key no. from the computer case which is also the license no. I was apprehensive about using another installation CD with the product key from the label taped to this computer case because I didn't know how to tell the difference between a product key & a license & I was also afraid that M'soft would reject it for some reason; they're not the easiest firm to do business with. Anyway, the license no. appears to be the only no. that WGA looks at, provided it matches the computer hardware profile. Regards.

[glc]

The 5 groups of 5 alphanumeric characters is the "product key". That's all that counts. If the install accepted the product key on the COA sticker and it activated, that's all you need. That means you borrowed the correct type of CD. OEM CD's don't come with a CD case, they come with a peelable sticker that's supposed to be applied to the computer case. Retail CD's come with a CD case with a nonremovable sticker on it.

The first thing I do with a CD that comes with a product key is write the key on the CD itself with a Sharpie in case I lose the sticker.

[systempat]

As was stated the product key is what you need. If you have a good product key, you are all set. You can use any install disk for that operating system and enter your key and all is GOOD. Msoft has no problem at all with this as long as multiple machines are not activated with the same key. The repair shops will always have install disks for all the popular OS versions and will use their disk to install and enter the product key on the sticker on the case. Also if you rebuild a system with new hardware and have to reinstall XP (or whatever) that's fine just reinstall and use the product key. You are supposed to have at least some of the hardware from the original system to make it legitimate. If it does not activate on the Web lookup then you have to call 800 number. But it should never be a problem.

Well not quite any disk. A retail Windows disk can be used (let me use XP home for the example). If it's the retail version it comes in a plastic case and the key label is attached. The generic OEM version has a booklet and a paper sleeve and the label is supposed to be peeled off and attached to the case (but in one case I left mine attached to the booklet which went into my file of install disks). The generic OEM is what you get when buying system parts from online and you buy the 'system builder' OEM version. It can go on any make of PC or a build-your-own machine. The Windows disk that have a brand name on them like Dell or COmpaq or HP can only be installed on the machine of the same name. They are customized and interact with the BIOS or something. So no good for other makes or on BYO machines. The advantage on these is that the key may be 'built-in' to the machine as GLC said and does not need to be entered by the user. Because Dell or whoever already bought the license in a volume package and supplied it with the system.