Computer Related > Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Dulwich Estate Replies: 19
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 Mon 23 Jan 12 18:56 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - Dulwich Estate
An elderly laptop running with XP could do with a spring clean and I planned to do a complete fresh reinstall of Windows XP as there is nothing on the machine worth saving.

Trouble is, I can't find the original installation CD.

But I've got a couple of other XP CDs knocking about and wonder if I could use one of those and input that new product key.

Legal and other responses welcome.
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 Mon 23 Jan 12 19:03 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - Zero
Yeah, as long as its not currently in use elsewhere (it should be unistalled). If the hardware is radically different, it may cough and demand you contact MS for validation.
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 Mon 23 Jan 12 19:11 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - Dave_
>> Legal and other responses welcome.

I, er, have a friend who's reinstalled XP from the same non-original disc three or four times with no validation problems. Windows will sometimes display a warning against the use of non-genuine software on startup but that doesn't prevent it from working, or from obtaining service packs and updates through the usual MS website. It wouldn't surprise me if my friend's copy is in use on several different machines simultaneously.
Last edited by: Dave_TDCi on Mon 23 Jan 12 at 19:13
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 Mon 23 Jan 12 19:20 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - Dulwich Estate
That's good, as I thought maybe the original code was embedded in the machine somewhere and so I was afraid to start a reload without being able to finish the job.

As it happens, one of the XP discs is still in its original wrapping and has never been used (don't ask why or where from as I truly can't remember).

I'll give it a go.
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 Mon 23 Jan 12 19:44 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - smokie
I thought the key was tied to the version - i.e. a Home version key would not work with a Professional disc. Could be wrong.
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 Mon 23 Jan 12 19:48 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - spamcan61
I suspect you're right, COA stickers have a version of the OS printed on them, so presumably will only work with that version.

I used my Medion install disks to rebuild a PC with an intel mobo and all sorts of different bits - I think the card reader & case were the only Medion parts left - that still went through activation and Genuine Advantage OK.
Last edited by: spamcan61 on Mon 23 Jan 12 at 19:49
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 Wed 25 Jan 12 19:44 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - Dulwich Estate
All done, and great for a third/fourth back-up, now positively zipping along with all of its 256 MB RAM. It wasn't happy loading drivers from the discs and it took a while, what with having to find them on the net.

I found the receipt - £965 in 2003. I guess that's why I won't throw it away.
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 Wed 25 Jan 12 22:11 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - rtj70
I paid £1173 for a 486SX 33MHz PC with 8Mb RAM, 210Mb hard disk and 15" monitor in 1993. In the days before you got CDROM drives or sound even. Soon added a SoundBlaster and CDROM drive (attached to the SoundBlaster card).

Technology is cheap these days for what you get.
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 Wed 25 Jan 12 22:26 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - Bromptonaut
Paid much same as rtj for a 486SX 25 in early 94.. Ambra 'Sprinter' with VESA local bus.

Only 100MB on the HDD; guy in one shop assured me I'd never fill the 33MB on the 'bargain' 386he wanted £800 for !!

Few years later a neighbour gave me a DX chip and showed me how to fit it. Added memory, CD drive, WIN95 and as big a hard drive as the pre LBA BIOS would support. Kept my son happy for games until well after 2000.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Wed 25 Jan 12 at 22:28
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 Tue 31 Jan 12 12:09 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - Stuartli
>>Technology is cheap these days for what you get.>>

Never a truer word...:-) Got a September 1995 Action catalogue - the prices even for basic peripherals, never mind systems, make your eyes water......
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 Thu 26 Jan 12 13:48 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - TeeCee
>> All done, and great for a third/fourth back-up, now positively zipping along with all of
>> its 256 MB RAM.
>>

It'll zip a lot more if you add some.
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 Thu 26 Jan 12 23:49 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - Dulwich Estate
I've thought, more than once, to add some RAM as it would surely improve its speed.

The trouble is that it costs money and I don't reckon it's worth it. 2 desktops, 2 iPods, and a new netbook are already more than we need really.
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 Fri 27 Jan 12 00:57 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - rtj70
I've not read all the thread... but depending on the memory type used it could be cheap. One of us probably has some spare lying around.
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 Fri 27 Jan 12 12:39 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - spamcan61
>> I've not read all the thread... but depending on the memory type used it could
>> be cheap. One of us probably has some spare lying around.
>>

I'm pretty sure I've got a couple of 256MB DDR sticks spare for starters, plus 256MB & maybe 512MB sticks of even more ancient PC100.
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 Fri 27 Jan 12 16:24 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - Dulwich Estate
Thanks x2,

I'll look up what it needs/can use and report back.
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 Fri 27 Jan 12 18:52 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - Dulwich Estate
The crucial site tells me that I have 256MB and the maximum it can take is 1GB.

512MB
DDR PC2700 • CL=2.5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR333 • 2.5V • • Part #: CT650017 Price £36 inc VAT.

So, 1MB will set me back £72.

I think that's far too costly for an 8-year old laptop whose original battery seems fine, but will obviously die one day. So, I'm afraid I won't be buying.......unless you guys know better....
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 Fri 27 Jan 12 19:03 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - Dulwich Estate
Offtek only want £14.22 per 512Mb.

Subject to your esteemed feedback I might get interested.
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 Fri 27 Jan 12 20:05 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - spamcan61
>> The crucial site tells me that I have 256MB and the maximum it can take
>> is 1GB.
>>
Did it say how many slots are empty? If you have two empty memory slots then I should be able to dig out my 256MB sticks, that should make a fair difference on an XP machine.
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 Fri 27 Jan 12 20:42 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - Dulwich Estate
There are 2 slots: one with 256MB and an empty one. I thought maybe one 512MB would then give me 768MB.

Otherwise, another 256MB would of course give me 512MB, so thank you for the offer, but maybe another 512MB might be the way to go.

Again, I'll defer to those with greater knowledge.
Last edited by: Dulwich Estate on Fri 27 Jan 12 at 20:43
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 Fri 27 Jan 12 21:11 
 Reload XP with a different disc and product key ? - spamcan61
A quick look at ebay shows 512MB DDR333 sticks for around a fiver if you fancy a cheap gamble. Item no. 180804537404 for example. - I'm assuming a desktop for some reason.
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