Old XP Home CD and new Product Key.

Hi Folks, I want to reinstall XP Home on a new computer with an XP disk from another computer and use the Product Key from the new machine. I’ve heard this should work but have never actually tried this myself. Does any one know if this always works or might there be a problem?

The new computer in a brand new Dell Dimension that has so much extra software pre-installed it’s beyond belief. It has already caused problems when trying to uninstall or turn some of it off, so we’ve decided to go for a clean install, but no XP disk supplied with the machine. She already has a full XP Home CD form her other machine, so can we use this and the Product Key from the sticker on the case of the new Dell? Would it matter that her XP Home disk is old and pre service packs? I’ll obviously slipstream SP2 onto it first.

Thanks.

 

I have used a WinXP Home OEM disk that has SP2 slipstreamed on eMachines and Gateways that had XP Home originally installed and used the keys off of the machines without problems. I believe you must use an OEM CD.

 

Thanks guys, I have a XP Home OEM disk myself, so would it be legal enough to use that and her key? I actually use that version of XP myself so would it not cause problems with MS knowing it is being used on two computers? Or is it just the Product Key that actually makes an install unique and ties it to one person and one computer?

Failing this Steve we probable will pursue seeing if we can buy a CD if it’s that cheap.

 

McTavish--You should be able to uninstall all the unwanted programs from Control Panel|Add/Remove. It is a nuisance, but easier than the reinstall you are suggesting.

 

Thanks Arie, I’m pretty sure my OEM disk is not locked to the computer, however after reading about this SLP thing we might go with buying a CD from Dell after all, if it means she will never have to Activate XP even after future hardware changes.

Hi Jim, true it may be easier to just uninstall things, but I’m reluctant to set up her new system with the possibility of future problems arising from the removal of such invasive things as AOL and McAfee security suite – and several other things. She makes her living from her computer and will be installing several big programs of her own, so I don’t want to be fixing problems in the future and always wondering if it may have been caused by messy uninstalls.

 

First off, have you tried the Dell hidden system restore which is available on newer Dells. Depending on your computers age you may find it doesn't install a lot of the extra programs.
To restore your computer press Ctrl-F11 when you see the blue Dell bar at the top of your screen, after the bios but before Windows load.
As to your other question:
Yes, it MAY work.
It depends on the other disk you are using.
Disks from major manufacturers like Dell, HP, etc. check for the product key which is actually in the bios. If you use a generic XP oem disk like you would buy from a retailer of OEM products you can just reformat and reinstall and put in the key found on the computer. You will have to activate your XP if you do it with any disk other than a Dell.
You cannot use a retail version disk of Windows XP to do your re-install. They use different keys.
You MAY be able to use a disk from say, a Gateway, but often that won't work because there is software on major manufacturer disks that accesses the above mentioned bios key and often it will see its not the right manufacturer and abort the install (this keeps changing so I can't tell you which manufacturers will/willnot work.)
That being said here's your best option.
Find someone with a Dell disk that matches what you have (XP Home or Pro).
If you find one that already has SP2 even better. All Dell XP disks will work on any Dell as long as you have the matched the Home/Pro that was originally installed and is on the product key on the machine and then you will not have to activate it.
Trust me on this. I have a computer shop and have done hundreds of installs and I guarantee I have given you accurate info.

 

McTavish--I do not know what the new Dell CD's contain. Have you looked at the content of the Recovery CD that came with the PC? It may not have all the other programs (which could be on separate CD's) and you could format and install the OS only. Or maybe the Recovery CD offers the option of a Custom Install which would allow you to choose what you want.
Any personal data can be backed up to an external drive or partition prior to a format, if there already is some that she does not want to lose. That data could then be copied back after the format and installation.

 

Dell does not provide "recovery cd's ". If you opt to pay an additional $10.00 when you purchase your Dell you can get the Dell Windows XP re-installation disk. Which is basically just Windows XP install disk. You need to then do a manual re-install just like with an oem disk. Except you don't need to enter the key nor do a product activation.

 

techs--Thanks for that input. My Dell came with a full WinXP Home CD (purchased July 2004), but I know they changed policy shortly after I bought it. (I also got a bunch of Application CD's in case I needed to reinstall.)
On the other hand, my PC came with "Dell's" PC Restore (really Symantec's PC Restore)
http://support.dell.com/support/top.../en/document?dn=1090152&c=us&l=en&cs=04&s=bsd
installed by Dell, but what that did was to restore the PC to the status it was in when it left the factory. Presumably with AOL, etc. installed.
So based on your comments, McTavish ought to buy the full Windows XP CD from Dell and do a full reinstall.

 

tech; you say that the key is in the bios what would happen if your mother-board was changed out. would you have the same key or a different one.
reason im asking is that i went to belarc and the keys listed there is not the one on my tower. and i know that the key on the tower is invalid. i told dell and they want to do the pc restore. wonder what would happen if i used the key belarc has listed?

mctavish;i got a new dell and it is loaded and i got media center which is even worse because they chose your music. you can get the reinstallion dvd and dell resouce cd at no charge (they overnighted mine). might be better if you used live chat (im a slow talking southerner and i gave up on the phone)and you'll hardware tech chat. if you get the about blank pop-up use order chat and tell them to transfer you. just remember that you will not be the only person the tech is handling.

 

The one on the tower is invalid?
I believe the machine is now using the new key on the new mobo. Either way both keys are Dell keys and don't require activation. You should probably write down the key Belarc is giving you since that is your current key.

 

thanks tech i was wondering about it

 

tech, used the key listed in belarc and it was valid, thanks much

 

The last Dell PC I bought was in August. By that date, they no longer came with an XP installation CD (nor any option to buy one - is that new or US only?).

However, by ringing Dell Support and briefly persuading them that I needed one (as I remeber, the clincher was that this was the only way to get the Windows Backup utility), I received one by courier the following morning.

Worth a phone call?

Regards,
Brian.

 

Thanks again guys…….Techs, yeah I used the Dell restore to get back to a working system after the failed attempt to uninstall AOL. It took the machine back to exactly as it was delivered. No disks supplied with the computer at all for OS or drivers, but I’ve found all the drivers I need for download on the Dell site. The OEM disk I have is indeed generic and I’m shortly going to start on the machine with that to see if it will do the job. First I have to backup the current Dell setup – the hidden partitions and their contents and the Dell specific MBR used for the restore system – just in case I have to put everything back to how it was.

Jim, Jan, Brian……..Can’t be bothered with getting the Dell XP disk just now, but obviously will if I have to. Perhaps it’s my Scottish blood, not wanting to waste money if I don’t have to.

 

Well, got the computer home and started by just looking at all the installed software to see if there was anything worthwhile. One of the first things I found was an option on the start menu to make a ‘Backup Windows CD’ which actually burned me a full XP CD. I have installed afresh from this and it has given me a clean Windows without all the pre-installed software and without the need to activate. Brilliant!

So all new Dell owners, look for the option to make your own Windows CD. You are only allowed to make one disk and then the option disappears from the start menu. Even after using the Dell restore to put the machine back to the factory state the option does not return to the start menu – probably something gets changed on one of the hidden Dell partitions so it remembers if you have already made your CD.

Thanks everyone for your input. I’ve just got to install drivers and software now and set up her multiboot and a better image restore system than the Dell one.

 

Unfortunately I haven't seen the option to make the disk anymore on the newest Dells. They had the option for like 5 minutes, I think, about a year ago, then dropped it. Now they charge 10.00 to get the disk when you purchase the computer.
Which is why I keep a copy of the newest Dell disk I can get my hands on,both Home and Pro in my shop.
I have a brand new Dell in the shop and will check to make sure it is indeed no longer there.