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General discussion

Win XP install using other (legal) CD Product Key

by artman Jan 29, 2009 3:47AM PST

Getting right to it I have a Dell Dimension 4300 that I am fixing up for my daughter adding memory and a larger hard drive. It has Win Xp home installed on it and I have gotten the CD Key # off of it using an extractor. Now my question is because I do not have the upgrade CD (which came with it) for reinstalling it can I use my other (legal) XP upgrade cd to reistall it, using the Key # retrieved from the Dell to verify it with MS for upgrades/downloads, etc. or will I have to use the CD key # which came with my disc. Hope this makes sense, thanks for any input.

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2 Posts

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Let's cut to the bottom line.

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jan 29, 2009 3:58AM PST

Microsoft's license has teeth. It will fail if its not allowed.

Some get upset about this but you can't know if mixing keys and CDs will work as there are some dozens of combinations and many don't work.

You have some "XP upgrade CD" the issue is simple. There is no base OS to upgrade from so this effort looks like it will fail.

The CHEAP exit is to call Dell, supply the Service Tag and pay for restore media.
Bob

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using other win XP CD Key #

by artman Feb 2, 2009 2:30AM PST

Thanks for the info I'll get with Dell and get more info from them.

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