mates pc- windows xp reinstall help

jonnyb

Trying to help a friend fix his pc. Need to reinstall XP. Thought I could use my copy and his product key (saw other posts which suggested that would work).
It does not appear to let me, and I don't think I mistyped, but will try again.
So, 2 questions :

1. Should I be able to combine any XP copy with any valid product key ?
2. If I use my product key, I assume he will not be able to activate XP and use it past 15 days - is that correct ?

alex2796

just wondering, are they the same version? i.e xp home & xp pro? with or without sp2?

jonnyb

both home. mine has Sp2 but his was older, so I would expect SP1.

needaspirin

I posted this yesterday to someone with an XP prob. "If you borrow an XP disk it may not install if the serial number on the sticker on the PC does not match the version of XP on the disk."

sco0ter

I had a similar problem.. Tried my mates SP2 XP Home disk on my machine with my PRE-SP1 key and it wouldnt recognise it.. As I had only done this to save time updating I then went on and slipstreamed an SP2 disk using my old XP disk and making it XP Home SP2. This worked no problem. So wether the new SP2 disks came with a different key system and rendered pre-sp1 keys unrecognisable during install I dont know.

This would explain why the slipstream disk worked as the original key data would still be on the disk and might not be overwritten but added to with SP1-SP2 key system.

Maybe someone here has tried thier OLD key on a new SP2 install disk (not slipstream)

BTW also had the same results with XP Pro and all of them were OEM versions.

theCapt

XP keys can only be used in relation to the version it came with. So a OEM copy of SP2 will only work with a Product for OEM SP2. So in your case no it probably will not work. If you use your product it might work but by registering it, it is very possible that Microsoft will Null both PCs as having Illegel copys.

Have you already installed win xp on the system as you could recover it back to the master image, otherwise best bet is to buy a OEM copy of Win XP where a free upgrade to vista is available. Ebuyer sells them.

sco0ter

theCapt wrote:

If you use your product it might work but by registering it, it is very possible that Microsoft will Null both PCs as having Illegel copys.
.

I dont see how registering it after its accepted the key could cause it to be blacklisted... I have done re-installs using my slipstream cd many times with no problems (even phoned microsoft twice for activation keys). The problem just seems to be that XP is unwilling to accept very old COA keys for newer versions and could just be down to thier protection methods on newer disks. But if the key will install then they cant legally wise blacklist a valid key if you have the COA to prove it. You are after all entitled to ALL microsoft updates

theCapt

sco0ter wrote:

I dont see how registering it after its accepted the key could cause it to be blacklisted... I have done re-installs using my slipstream cd many times with no problems (even phoned microsoft twice for activation keys). The problem just seems to be that XP is unwilling to accept very old COA keys for newer versions and could just be down to thier protection methods on newer disks. But if the key will install then they cant legally wise blacklist a valid key if you have the COA to prove it. You are after all entitled to ALL microsoft updates

The activation black lists certain codes/keys by the registered details (if given) failing that they use the IP Address details of the registered system as well as the system details (spec, etc.) Unsure about slipstream disks, I guess they should work fine if they use the same code on the same system (i.e. reinstall).

Still the best idea is to buy a OEM copy of Win XP (preferable Pro) that has this current Vista promotion where you get a free upgrade to Vista on launch.

jonnyb

I connected his hard disk to my pc and went for a new install of windows from my xp cd, using my product code, just to test it.

I did not format his drive, but deleted eveything off so it was blank to start with. I installed to e:\windows, as that was how his drive was labelled.

Managed to boot up on my pc using his drive, but when I transferred to his pc it said "non-system disk" - now I'm suspecting a problem with the boot sector, and it may need formatting to resolve. he's got it back now and will try his recovery disks when he gets time. Any opinions ?

Also, now when my pc boots up, even though his disk is not connected anymore, I get a choice of 2 windows systems to select in the boot screen. Any idea how to get rif of the one that relates to his on e:\windows ?

albertross_2

on your PC, edit c:\boot.ini

jonnyb

I've searched for boot.ini but cannot find it. all hidden files should show on my pc.
any more suggestions ?