Reinstalling XP Pro w/o the original CDs

[nicnat]

I have a home built desk top system which I'd like to upgrade as it has
performed flawlessly but its only a single core CPU, not 2.x USB, relatively
small HDs,
etc. I originally bought XP Pro retail and installed it. Problem is now I
don't have the disks any longer. I can determine the key via various
utility programs and I've heard that one can use any XP installation CDs
(assuming its the same version Retail XP Pro in this case) and use the
original
product key to complete the install. Is that correct?? Where would I find
XP Pro retail CDs to install on my new system without having to buy them
again? Any suggestions?

 

[Bob I]

nicnat wrote:
> I have a home built desk top system which I'd like to upgrade as it has
> performed flawlessly but its only a single core CPU, not 2.x USB, relatively
> small HDs,
> etc. I originally bought XP Pro retail and installed it. Problem is now I
> don't have the disks any longer. I can determine the key via various
> utility programs and I've heard that one can use any XP installation CDs
> (assuming its the same version Retail XP Pro in this case) and use the
> original
> product key to complete the install. Is that correct?? Where would I find
> XP Pro retail CDs to install on my new system without having to buy them
> again? Any suggestions?
>
>

Without having to buy? Ask your neighbor.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

"nicnat" <abc@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:A378k.10001$AJ6.4367@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
>I have a home built desk top system which I'd like to upgrade as it has
> performed flawlessly but its only a single core CPU, not 2.x USB,
> relatively small HDs,
> etc. I originally bought XP Pro retail and installed it. Problem is now
> I
> don't have the disks any longer. I can determine the key via various
> utility programs and I've heard that one can use any XP installation CDs
> (assuming its the same version Retail XP Pro in this case) and use the
> original
> product key to complete the install. Is that correct?? Where would I
> find
> XP Pro retail CDs to install on my new system without having to buy them
> again? Any suggestions?

You have the license key, so any retail CD will work. Borrow one. It's
the license key, not the CD, that is the represenation of the license. You
may also be able to contact MS for a replacement - someone regularly posts a
URL here for "replacing lost or damaged install media".

If you use your key with the wrong install CD, the key will be rejected.
This can be a significant problem if you are doing a repair install, so be
sure to back up the data first.

HTH
-pk

 

[Daave]

Patrick Keenan wrote:
> "nicnat" <abc@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:A378k.10001$AJ6.4367@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
>> I have a home built desk top system which I'd like to upgrade as it
>> has performed flawlessly but its only a single core CPU, not 2.x USB,
>> relatively small HDs,
>> etc. I originally bought XP Pro retail and installed it. Problem
>> is now I
>> don't have the disks any longer. I can determine the key via various
>> utility programs and I've heard that one can use any XP installation
>> CDs (assuming its the same version Retail XP Pro in this case) and
>> use the original
>> product key to complete the install. Is that correct?? Where would
>> I find
>> XP Pro retail CDs to install on my new system without having to buy
>> them again? Any suggestions?
>
> You have the license key, so any retail CD will work. Borrow one.
> It's the license key, not the CD, that is the represenation of the
> license. You may also be able to contact MS for a replacement -
> someone regularly posts a URL here for "replacing lost or damaged
> install media".

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246

"[Y]ou must be able to provide a proof of purchase when you request a
replacement."

 

[nicnat]

Patrick Keenan wrote:
> "nicnat" <abc@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:A378k.10001$AJ6.4367@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
>> I have a home built desk top system which I'd like to upgrade as it
>> has performed flawlessly but its only a single core CPU, not 2.x USB,
>> relatively small HDs,
>> etc. I originally bought XP Pro retail and installed it. Problem
>> is now I
>> don't have the disks any longer. I can determine the key via various
>> utility programs and I've heard that one can use any XP installation
>> CDs (assuming its the same version Retail XP Pro in this case) and
>> use the original
>> product key to complete the install. Is that correct?? Where would
>> I find
>> XP Pro retail CDs to install on my new system without having to buy
>> them again? Any suggestions?
>
> You have the license key, so any retail CD will work. Borrow one. It's
> the license key, not the CD, that is the represenation of the
> license. You may also be able to contact MS for a replacement -
> someone regularly posts a URL here for "replacing lost or damaged
> install media".
> If you use your key with the wrong install CD, the key will be
> rejected. This can be a significant problem if you are doing a repair
> install, so be sure to back up the data first.
>
> HTH
> -pk

Thanks. It's the last item you bring up which concerns me. I would hate to
go through an irreversible step only to find that the retail key I have will
not work with the media I'm ultimately able to obtain. Thanks for your
post. I'll look for a URL to replace lost or damaged install media. I'll
look at other sources like eMule as well.

 

[Big_Al]

nicnat wrote:
> Patrick Keenan wrote:
>> "nicnat" <abc@nospam.com> wrote in message
>> news:A378k.10001$AJ6.4367@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
>>> I have a home built desk top system which I'd like to upgrade as it
>>> has performed flawlessly but its only a single core CPU, not 2.x USB,
>>> relatively small HDs,
>>> etc. I originally bought XP Pro retail and installed it. Problem
>>> is now I
>>> don't have the disks any longer. I can determine the key via various
>>> utility programs and I've heard that one can use any XP installation
>>> CDs (assuming its the same version Retail XP Pro in this case) and
>>> use the original
>>> product key to complete the install. Is that correct?? Where would
>>> I find
>>> XP Pro retail CDs to install on my new system without having to buy
>>> them again? Any suggestions?
>> You have the license key, so any retail CD will work. Borrow one. It's
>> the license key, not the CD, that is the represenation of the
>> license. You may also be able to contact MS for a replacement -
>> someone regularly posts a URL here for "replacing lost or damaged
>> install media".
>> If you use your key with the wrong install CD, the key will be
>> rejected. This can be a significant problem if you are doing a repair
>> install, so be sure to back up the data first.
>>
>> HTH
>> -pk
>
> Thanks. It's the last item you bring up which concerns me. I would hate to
> go through an irreversible step only to find that the retail key I have will
> not work with the media I'm ultimately able to obtain. Thanks for your
> post. I'll look for a URL to replace lost or damaged install media. I'll
> look at other sources like eMule as well.
>
>
If you don't have a good backup external drive, now might be the time to
buy that external case and 3.5" drive for backup. Use the drive to test
your install and if it works, then you've got both the install and a
backup drive now. No matter which drive goes in the case, old/new.

 

[alpweb]

i belive u can use any xp-pro cd. and if u cant find xp pro cd, u can
download it from the net , try google. that is what i can write. as i
dont know the legal bounding. i would advice u to note down your
original cd key and then try doing upgrade or reinstallation.

if u are already using the xp , and if it is running slow and for that
reason u want to upgrade dont use the repair option while reinstalling.
at next level press L to delete the previous installation , it will
delete all personal data from mydocs, and user profile, the rest will be
as it is. (make sure to back up the critical data)

 

[Patrick Keenan]

"nicnat" <abc@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:On98k.4092$NQ5.219@bignews6.bellsouth.net...
> Patrick Keenan wrote:
>> "nicnat" <abc@nospam.com> wrote in message
>> news:A378k.10001$AJ6.4367@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
>>> I have a home built desk top system which I'd like to upgrade as it
>>> has performed flawlessly but its only a single core CPU, not 2.x USB,
>>> relatively small HDs,
>>> etc. I originally bought XP Pro retail and installed it. Problem
>>> is now I
>>> don't have the disks any longer. I can determine the key via various
>>> utility programs and I've heard that one can use any XP installation
>>> CDs (assuming its the same version Retail XP Pro in this case) and
>>> use the original
>>> product key to complete the install. Is that correct?? Where would
>>> I find
>>> XP Pro retail CDs to install on my new system without having to buy
>>> them again? Any suggestions?
>>
>> You have the license key, so any retail CD will work. Borrow one. It's
>> the license key, not the CD, that is the represenation of the
>> license. You may also be able to contact MS for a replacement -
>> someone regularly posts a URL here for "replacing lost or damaged
>> install media".
>> If you use your key with the wrong install CD, the key will be
>> rejected. This can be a significant problem if you are doing a repair
>> install, so be sure to back up the data first.
>>
>> HTH
>> -pk
>
> Thanks. It's the last item you bring up which concerns me. I would hate
> to go through an irreversible step only to find that the retail key I have
> will not work with the media I'm ultimately able to obtain. Thanks for
> your post. I'll look for a URL to replace lost or damaged install media.
> I'll look at other sources like eMule as well.

I realized later that if you have another sacrificial system - or drive -
you can test the key and CD pair pretty easily. Run the install on this
other system (or other drive) up to the point where it asks for the license
key. Enter yours, and when it says it's accepted or not, you can just halt
the install (even by turning the system off) as you've learned what you need
to know. This should take about 20 minutes.

HTH
-pk

 

[Patrick Keenan]

"alpweb" <alpweb.3bkd8q@no.email.invalid> wrote in message
news:alpweb.3bkd8q@no.email.invalid...
>
> i belive u can use any xp-pro cd.

Unfortunately, no, you can't. The CD type must match the key type, retail,
VL, OEM, etc.

-pk


> and if u cant find xp pro cd, u can
> download it from the net , try google. that is what i can write. as i
> dont know the legal bounding. i would advice u to note down your
> original cd key and then try doing upgrade or reinstallation.
>
> if u are already using the xp , and if it is running slow and for that
> reason u want to upgrade dont use the repair option while reinstalling.
> at next level press L to delete the previous installation , it will
> delete all personal data from mydocs, and user profile, the rest will be
> as it is. (make sure to back up the critical data)
>
>

 

[nicnat]

Patrick Keenan wrote:
> "nicnat" <abc@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:On98k.4092$NQ5.219@bignews6.bellsouth.net...
>> Patrick Keenan wrote:
>>> "nicnat" <abc@nospam.com> wrote in message
>>> news:A378k.10001$AJ6.4367@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
>>>> I have a home built desk top system which I'd like to upgrade as it
>>>> has performed flawlessly but its only a single core CPU, not 2.x
>>>> USB, relatively small HDs,
>>>> etc. I originally bought XP Pro retail and installed it. Problem
>>>> is now I
>>>> don't have the disks any longer. I can determine the key via
>>>> various utility programs and I've heard that one can use any XP
>>>> installation CDs (assuming its the same version Retail XP Pro in
>>>> this case) and use the original
>>>> product key to complete the install. Is that correct?? Where
>>>> would I find
>>>> XP Pro retail CDs to install on my new system without having to buy
>>>> them again? Any suggestions?
>>>
>>> You have the license key, so any retail CD will work. Borrow one.
>>> It's the license key, not the CD, that is the represenation of the
>>> license. You may also be able to contact MS for a replacement -
>>> someone regularly posts a URL here for "replacing lost or damaged
>>> install media".
>>> If you use your key with the wrong install CD, the key will be
>>> rejected. This can be a significant problem if you are doing a
>>> repair install, so be sure to back up the data first.
>>>
>>> HTH
>>> -pk
>>
>> Thanks. It's the last item you bring up which concerns me. I would
>> hate to go through an irreversible step only to find that the retail
>> key I have will not work with the media I'm ultimately able to
>> obtain. Thanks for your post. I'll look for a URL to replace lost
>> or damaged install media. I'll look at other sources like eMule as
>> well.
>
> I realized later that if you have another sacrificial system - or
> drive - you can test the key and CD pair pretty easily. Run the
> install on this other system (or other drive) up to the point where
> it asks for the license key. Enter yours, and when it says it's
> accepted or not, you can just halt the install (even by turning the
> system off) as you've learned what you need to know. This should
> take about 20 minutes.
> HTH
> -pk

Once I get the new system built I'll just attempt to install XP via whatever
source I've been able to come up with by then. I don't have a sacrificial
system Thanks.

 

[choka]

If your system still running you can use special software to recover your Windows and Office key. Most of them support some versions of Windows and some other Microsoft products. Also there is a products like "Recover Keys" ( Recover Lost Product CD Keys for Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Office, SQL, Exchange - CD-Key Retrieve ) that support all Windows and Office versions and 700+ of other major software packages.

 

[Bob I]

*SPAM* Reinstalling XP Pro w/o the original CDs

 

[nicnat]

choka wrote:
> If your system still running you can use special software to recover
> your Windows and Office key. Most of them support some versions of
> Windows and some other Microsoft products. Also there is a products
> like "Recover Keys" ( 'Recover Lost Product CD Keys for Microsoft
> Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Office, SQL, Exchange - CD-Key
> Retrieve' (http://recover-keys.com/) ) that support all Windows and
> Office versions and 700+ of other major software packages.

Thanks but I said in my original post that I could get the key. I'm trying
to get a line on the install disks for XP Pro now.