Install XP with different product key code?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mad NAT'er
  • Start date Start date
M

mad NAT'er

I'm doing some volunteer work for an organization that supplies
used/refurbished computers to homeless shelters. Part of that work involves
upgrading the OS (say from Windows 98) and upgrading Office as well. In
trying to work on a group of PCs today I discovered the XP disk could not be
read by the PCs. Looking at the disk, the problem was a crack running
through part of the disk rendering it unreadable.

This is a disk supplied by MicroSoft to the organization for the purpose we
are using it for. We have the proper product key codes as well but we can't
use the disk. My guess is the disk has been used so many times that in
handling it someone cracked it. Can I use another XP disk to install the OS
but use the product key code assigned to the organization by MS for the
cracked CD?

Perhaps something in the installation files of the XP disk is looking for a
specific product key. In this case, entering a different, but valid, key
would not work. Does anyone know?
 
mad said:
I'm doing some volunteer work for an organization that supplies
used/refurbished computers to homeless shelters. Part of that work
involves
upgrading the OS (say from Windows 98) and upgrading Office as well. In
trying to work on a group of PCs today I discovered the XP disk could not
be
read by the PCs. Looking at the disk, the problem was a crack running
through part of the disk rendering it unreadable.

This is a disk supplied by MicroSoft to the organization for the purpose
we
are using it for. We have the proper product key codes as well but we
can't
use the disk. My guess is the disk has been used so many times that in
handling it someone cracked it. Can I use another XP disk to install the
OS but use the product key code assigned to the organization by MS for the
cracked CD?

Perhaps something in the installation files of the XP disk is looking for
a
specific product key. In this case, entering a different, but valid, key
would not work. Does anyone know?
Click to expand...

You can use a different installation CD as long as it matches the version of
the Product Key - XP Home/Pro retail, Home/Pro/Media Center OEM. Otherwise:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

Malke
 
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