Windows XP SP2 Authentication code

  • Thread starter Thread starter Betsy
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Betsy

I have become responsible for basic IT at a office I work at. We have
18 workstations all running Windows XP as well as a window server.

I am not sure how the initial install was done, but we have 18 copies
of Windows XP and the authentication stickers are affixed to each
machine, but there are no codes with the original software so I have
no idea what cd matches to what work station.

Is there any way to determine this? Does the code go with the
software or can I use any of the cd's we have and just make sure I am
using the code from the specific workstation that I need to reinstall
Windows too?

Thanks.

Betsy
 
Betsy said:
I have become responsible for basic IT at a office I work at. We have
18 workstations all running Windows XP as well as a window server.

I am not sure how the initial install was done, but we have 18 copies
of Windows XP and the authentication stickers are affixed to each
machine, but there are no codes with the original software so I have
no idea what cd matches to what work station.

Is there any way to determine this? Does the code go with the
software or can I use any of the cd's we have and just make sure I am
using the code from the specific workstation that I need to reinstall
Windows too?

Thanks.

Betsy
Click to expand...

That's correct, if they are all the same and it will be installed on those
machines?.
HTH.
nass
 
That's correct, if they are all the same and it will be installed on those
machines?.
HTH.
nass
-------www.nasste.co.uk
Click to expand...

Yes it is an original macnine that had the software but we have
replaced the harddrive due to failure so I am doing a clean install
with the authentication code that is on that machine.

Thanks for the help.

Betsy
 
Betsy said:
I have become responsible for basic IT at a office I work at. We have
18 workstations all running Windows XP as well as a window server.

I am not sure how the initial install was done, but we have 18 copies
of Windows XP and the authentication stickers are affixed to each
machine, but there are no codes with the original software so I have
no idea what cd matches to what work station.

Is there any way to determine this? Does the code go with the
software or can I use any of the cd's we have and just make sure I am
using the code from the specific workstation that I need to reinstall
Windows too?

Thanks.

Betsy
Click to expand...

Start with comparing the install CD labels. If they are the same, with
only some differences for service pack, saying SP1 or SP2, the codes will
work with any CD.

For a given type of XP install CD, only the codes are different, the CDs are
*identical*. The code difference matters when you activate XP. The
service pack level doesn't influence the codes that are accepted.

If you want to see this, find a system with two CD drives. Then, download
a file-compare program like FileSync (which you will find to be a very
helpful tool). www.fileware.com .

Set it to do a binary compare of the two CD drives, which by this time
contain two of your XP CDs. Let it run, and look at the number of
different files. If the labels are the same, the files should be too.

If the systems were purchased at the same time, with the same type of XP
license, the CDs will all compare as identical. If some CDs are SP2 and
some SP1 and some with no SP at all, yes, there will be differences. But
if they are the same install type, (for example, XP Pro Retail vs. XP Pro
OEM or XP Pro Upgrade), the keys will work with any of the CDs.

Again, if you feel the need to test, get a bare test machine. Start up XP
Setup, and let it run till you get to the point where it asks for the
install key. Start using the keys from the systems in the office. If
one works, stop, and start again with another code. You may have to
restart the system and start setup from the beginning.

Finally, if your CDs don't say "with SP2", save yourself a lot of time and
make a slipstreamed SP2 CD. Download Autostreamer and the full SP2 file,
and create a new bootable SP2 CD for all of the systems.

http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.shtml

Autostreamer:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=223562

SP2:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

Autostreamer, IIRC, creates an ISO file. You open this with a CD burning
application, and burn it to CD. Verify that the burned CD is bootable.


HTH
-pk
 
Betsy said:
I have become responsible for basic IT at a office I work at. We
have 18 workstations all running Windows XP as well as a window
server.

I am not sure how the initial install was done, but we have 18
copies of Windows XP and the authentication stickers are affixed to
each machine, but there are no codes with the original software so
I have no idea what cd matches to what work station.

Is there any way to determine this? Does the code go with the
software or can I use any of the cd's we have and just make sure I
am using the code from the specific workstation that I need to
reinstall Windows too?
Click to expand...

Windows XP Product Keys are not normally tied to a CD - unless that CD has
been modified in such a way to be 'unattended' at some level.

In other words - if you have a bunch of machines with product key stickers
on the machines (and these machines are generally the same (same
manufacturer I mean) - then it is more than likely you could use ANY Windows
XP installation CD from the set to install - just use the product key for
that machine found on the sticker on that machine.
 
Betsy said:
Yes it is an original macnine that had the software but we have
replaced the harddrive due to failure so I am doing a clean install
with the authentication code that is on that machine.

Thanks for the help.

Betsy
Click to expand...

Fortunately, the install key check is fairly early in the install process.
If you have the wrong CD, you'll know pretty quickly. Use the code from
the COA on that machine.

If the key doesn't work, you'll have to bail, and restart Setup with a disk
that looks different. Set that disk aside with a note about the key it
doesn't work with.

HTH
-pk
 
Fortunately, the install key check is fairly early in the install process.
If you have the wrong CD, you'll know pretty quickly. Use the code from
the COA on that machine.

If the key doesn't work, you'll have to bail, and restart Setup with a disk
that looks different. Set that disk aside with a note about the key it
doesn't work with.

HTH
-pk
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the help. Just wanted to make sure I knew exactly what
I was doing before I got to work in the am!

Betsy
 
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