Does anyone know offhand if there is an easy way to buy a XP CD without a CD key? I have a legit key, but no disc, and everything else I and everyone I know uses is Pro or above. The manufacturers restore disc won't help since this is a replacement for a dead machine, but and I want to use the OS from the now defunct unit. Thanks!
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XP OEM CD/replacement CD
- Thread starter ATLMatt
- Start date
Have you tried contacting MS & requesting a disc? If memory serves me right, a client's HD crashed & needed an install disk. I think they paid something like $35. for it after some verification.
Hope this helps!
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Hope this helps!
Bob
Remember, if you can't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them!
ArizonaGeek
IS-IT--Management
If I am understanding your post correct, you bought a computer (A dell or HP or Gateway) that came with an OEM version of Windows XP. That machine now being dead you'd like to use that Windows XP key for another machine. Correct?
Technically, according to Microsoft, you aren't allowed to use the OEM version for any other computer except the one the OS was purchased with.
If you needed an OEM disk for the original machine, Ebay is filled with them or you can contact the computer manufacturer.
That's about as much help as you're gonna get and what's allowed on here. Good luck!
Cheers,
Rob
The answer is always "PEBKAC!
Technically, according to Microsoft, you aren't allowed to use the OEM version for any other computer except the one the OS was purchased with.
If you needed an OEM disk for the original machine, Ebay is filled with them or you can contact the computer manufacturer.
That's about as much help as you're gonna get and what's allowed on here. Good luck!
Cheers,
Rob
The answer is always "PEBKAC!
Rob is right. An OEM license is cheaper because it has to stick with the original hardware it was registered with. So if you were to try to move it, it wouldn't activate without a call to Microsoft. Also, an OEM key will only be accepted by an OEM CD. For example, you couldn't use a standard retail XP CD with that key and vice versa.
In addition, most vendors like HP and Dell make sure their keys only work with their OEM discs (or it checks to make sure that you have a valid BIOS). So that's another hurdle you would have to get past.
~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
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In addition, most vendors like HP and Dell make sure their keys only work with their OEM discs (or it checks to make sure that you have a valid BIOS). So that's another hurdle you would have to get past.
~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.
NARSBARS,
Matt never said it was ONLY the hard drive that was dead. But you're right, if it just needs a new hard drive, then reusing the same OEM key shouldn't be an issue. It's when you try to move an OEM license to another workstation (or completely rebuild the existing one) when that's a problem.
~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.
Matt never said it was ONLY the hard drive that was dead. But you're right, if it just needs a new hard drive, then reusing the same OEM key shouldn't be an issue. It's when you try to move an OEM license to another workstation (or completely rebuild the existing one) when that's a problem.
~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.
- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks for the ideas guys, Microsoft says they will send me a cd for $30 bucks. For some reason, they didn't like my idea of sending them a blank CD and a pre-paid UPS envelope! I'm thinking this system is looking like a great candidate for Ubuntu if I can't find the software elsewhere.
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