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What Xp cd do I use with my cd key ?
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Senior Member
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18. April 2010 @ 18:51 |
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Hi there guy's, I'm asking a question that's been bugging me now for awhile.
Basically when I purchased my Pc a few years back, it is an Emachines 5260 it came with windows Xp home edition pre installed with the licence key on the back of it, but it never came with a recovery cd.
So over the past few years when I've had to reformat my pc I've ended up using pirated Xp disc and a crack. I understand that type of talk is frowned upon here on AD, but that's not my issue. My issue is I have a legit key so why won't it work when I put an Xp home cd into my machine.
I've put a fresh install on some of my family's computers too and like me they didn't get a cd with their pc just a legit sticker on the side of the pc, but my question is what disc do I need to be able to enter the legit serial on the side of the pc.
Online I see OEM cd's and Retail cd's, but I'm a little lost to know what cd I need to use.
I take it a retail cd is only for if you lost your original Xp cd that you bought in the shop and have your Retail key and OEM cd's are cd's that came with the computer.
So would I be right in saying that If I buy a Dell pc and I don't get a cd with it, just a legit key, I could borrow a Dell OEM cd from a friend and that will work ? And so on ?
Just thought I'd ask this as I've been using cracked versions of Xp when I really shouldn't have to as I/we bought and paid for our computers and have the stickers on the side.
All info appreciated.
Thanks
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ddp
Moderator
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18. April 2010 @ 22:46 |
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if has ms sticker on case but no recovery cd/dvd then that is because your hd has 2 partitions on it with the 2nd partition being the recovery partition. should be a program that is loaded in windows that allows you to make recovery disks just in case the hd dies.
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Paula_X
Suspended permanently
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19. April 2010 @ 04:04 |
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dell oem disk should work.. depending.. but xp keys aren't hard to find anyway.. and there are ways to not need one at all.. winborg ring any bells~?
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Senior Member
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19. April 2010 @ 09:50 |
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Hi and thanks for the reply guy's.
Paula I understand Xp keys are not hard to find but what I'm trying to say is I usually have a legit key on the back or side of my pc but I dont' have the installation disc, that's the problem.
ddp, yes I know what you mean. The first time I formatted my emachines pc I used the recovery on the other partition, but on the next re-format I just deleted both partitions as I still found the pc to be a bit slow starting up.
So now on my emachines pc I have a legit key on the side of it, but I have no idea what version of Xp home disc I should use to install windows.
I tried using an untouched Retail Xp home edition but it wouldn't accept my key.
I also tried using an OEM Xp home edition and it still wouldn't accept my key so I'm left stumpted to know what disc I need to use that will accept my key.
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Paula_X
Suspended permanently
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20. April 2010 @ 03:09 |
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doesn't really matter.. the oem keys are time limited anyway.. even if you use it you will still be accused of using a pirate os.. in about 30 days.
I install qa lot of dells.. we install xp pro.. activate it (with a backup activation that must be on 300 machines by now) then crack the hell out of the wga garbage.. it works for as long as xp lasts.. usually 6 months before it's broken beyond repair anyways.
Seeing as M$ will call you a thief even if you do things "properly" then just be one and whatever.. you have a sticker on the side.. so what?.. I have 10 cases with stickers on them.. doesn't mean they have xp on them. That key was legit for dell when they installed it.. or first user.. after a full format neither are actually you in the eyes of M$.. you don't own winduhz.. never have and never will.. only by the whim of the monopolists you use it.
You can change the "prodct key" after installation anyway.. winkeyfinder 1.71 allows changing.. then activate and crack as usual... if it's so important
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Senior Member
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20. April 2010 @ 18:00 |
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all ive done in this case is go to my local computer store and get them to burn me a cd.if your key doesnt work contact microsoft.chances are they will be able to actually help you.
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Senior Member
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23. April 2010 @ 01:51 |
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Find an uncracked, original image of win XP home "somewhere online that may have it" for download. Use it. Whatever windows version is spelled out on the sticker you can use with that key.
I've never needed a Dell OEM or Gateway OEM disc, regular window disc+ valid product key=win.
A few times I was hassled and could'nt authenticate original key, but calling the phone# Microsoft gives you and telling the operator that a virus blew up windows and a complete format was required, how all your personal data was lost due to Microsoft product being easily infected fixes the problem every time. If you buy a PC from the store, put a new mobo+CPU in it due to original equipment failure or similar, that is OK to use original key but if you you put a mobo+CPU in a new box and call it a new build thats not OK. See the fine line there?
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1putt
Newbie
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23. April 2010 @ 02:44 |
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Hi, If I understand correctly the OP would like to know what disk to use to load XP Home, using the key on the side / top of the case.
If that's correct then IMHO you have to use the "specific" OEM disc and it MUST be XP Home.
Having gone through this with Dell, HP and others....
Use the Dell OEM XP Home for the Dell,
HP OEM Home (2 discs, one for OS one for drivers)
I can't help you find the discs though.
Good luck. I hope this saves you some time. I spent days working this out... With misleading posts not being overly helpful.
Cheers
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AfterDawn Addict
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23. April 2010 @ 12:11 |
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The important thing is the version. I have installed several copies of Windows XP using a DELL OEM version and IBM Keys.
The verbiage on the license sticker is important.
My experience is that if it's an SPx (SP1, SP2) license, then that's the disc that you need.
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Senior Member
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23. April 2010 @ 22:09 |
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The sticker can have the word Dell, or OEM or whatever, it should still have the windows version along with it. As long as I have the right windows version, I have been able to to ignore the words Dell or OEM or whatever... Why would you want to reinstall all the bloat that comes with a Dell or gateway OEM?
99% of my pc repair side-job work is fixing infected windows PC's. If a customer has an original sticker on their machine, I save their personal files and completely reformat hard drive and reload windows with the proper windows type regardless of brandname or OEM. I have used this method with XP HOme, XP Pro, Vista home (came with many laptops), MCE, MCE2005, etc, etc...
I stopped putting patched windows versions on new builds I did for customers because 9 out of 10 times they did something stupid to "undo" the patch and i had to redo everything making 2x the work.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. April 2010 @ 22:12
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Senior Member
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25. April 2010 @ 18:51 |
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Thanks for the info and knowledge on this guy's but I had to do a re-install over the past couple of days and I ended up using a craked copy as I just couldn't find the solution to this.
1putt, I hear what your saying and when I have some time I will try download an OEM version of windows and try it out.
Deadrum33, I hear what your saying too, but I already tried that and it wouldn't accept my key.
Basically any of the pc's I try to re-format I look at the sticker and see it say's Xp home, so I already have a retail untouched cd with the OS on it. I start the re-install but when it come to adding the key it say's "Key not vaild, use another key".
So as this is the genuine key on the side of the pc, there is no other key to use and in the end I have to use a cracked version, which I should'nt have to.
I have untouched versions of Xp home, Xp pro but as I said, every time I do a re-format and enter the legit key it never accepts. Therefor my only option now is to try download an OEM disc of the particular make of pc and see if some how I can enter my key in it.
Thanks for the info on this guy's :)
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ddp
Moderator
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25. April 2010 @ 22:13 |
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i think the problem is that the sticker key # on works for a specific service pack version so if key # is for sp1 it won't work with later or earlier versions of sp.
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Paula_X
Suspended permanently
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26. April 2010 @ 05:38 |
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correct.. sp and oem version reliant.. very specific (and it's hard coded into the disks) impossible to find so install generic and then use winkeyfinder to change it.. forget legit.. xp is discontinued anyway.
Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill .. 80% of xp users are running hookey anyway because of the "I get called a pirate even if I buy the crap" aspect.
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Senior Member
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26. April 2010 @ 20:43 |
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Maybe that's the issue ddp.
I got my original pc in 2005 so I guess that was Sp1.
As each Sp was released I slipstreamed it using nlite so maybe that's the issue.
I think Xp has to be the most awkward to activate. Vista on the other hand was excellent to activate, pity it was such a bad OS.
Thanks for all the info on this guy's!
A lot of my friends are still using Xp but if the service pack is the issue it looks as if I'd be fighting a losing battle - time wise.
Again, thanks for the info, appreciated ;)
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ddp
Moderator
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26. April 2010 @ 23:23 |
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talk to emachine about getting replacement cd.
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Paula_X
Suspended permanently
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30. April 2010 @ 05:44 |
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They don't supply them.. they want $40 at least (in the uk they want £69.99)
use something else.. plenty of freeware operating systems out here.. OR.. do like I suggested.. find and install wincrap.. then use winkeyfinder to change the key.. if you are bothered.. it's not like you need WGA or activation or any of that garbage for a disposable operating system that self destructs like XP anyway..
I can even send you a fully working activation, then you MUST kill automatic updates.. get that bloody spyware turned off!!
You have been ripped off by the manufactures and M$ cartel.. so get some payback.
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Senior Member
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1. May 2010 @ 00:01 |
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I've reinstalled Windows XP numerous times on my ancient Dell 4400, the only thing still original on it is the Mobo, CPU and case, everything else has been replaced. To use the current 320 Gig hard drive, I had to "Find" an XP home SP2 disk to use, the original disk wouldn't recognize the larger hard drive. If you can't find a working disk, follow Paula's advice, it will work.
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