XP Home using XP Pro Key?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Duane B.
  • Start date Start date
D

Duane B.

My neighbor had a hard disk failure on his out of warranty Dell XP Pro box
and he can't find the recovery disk. Can we load up a copy of XP Home that I
have and use his XP Pro key? Will Microsoft validate it?
 
Duane B. said:
My neighbor had a hard disk failure on his out of warranty Dell XP Pro box
and he can't find the recovery disk. Can we load up a copy of XP Home that I
have and use his XP Pro key? Will Microsoft validate it?
Click to expand...


No, the CD key will only work with the proper installation CD. You would need to
obtain an OEM XP Pro CD to use the key that's on the sticker attached to his
computer.

Take a look at this web site for info on how your friend may be able to order an
installation CD for his Dell.

Request Backup Discs
https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

Good luck

Nepatsfan
 
Duane B. said:
My neighbor had a hard disk failure on his out of warranty Dell XP Pro box
and he can't find the recovery disk. Can we load up a copy of XP Home that
I
have and use his XP Pro key?
Click to expand...

No. This will just not work. The key will be rejected.
Will Microsoft validate it?
Click to expand...

No, and the XP installer won't accept the key.

The neighbor's system may have a recovery partition rather than a "recovery
CD". Watch the screen carefully for a mention of this at a power-on start
(not a reboot).

Dell may be able to supply replacement install media, at some cost.

HTH
-pk
 
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