License Question 5

[NickCat11]

Hello,

I have three computers to I need to fix up for my friends business. They all have legit copies of xp pro installed. He lost the OS disks. I can retrieve the product key numbers through belarc advisor but I was wondering how it is possible to re-obtain xp pro cd's so I can reformat. The computers are 5 years old. Will the manufacture (Compaq) send me disks? Or do I need to purchase 3 new copies for him? Thanks in advance.

Nick

 

[electronicsfreak]

You can contact compaq and they might have some available you can buy. My advice is just make a copy of someones xp disc and write down YOUR code for it for each computer.

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[mscallisto]

If Compac issued CD's with the original purchase it's worth calling Compac Support and explaining the situation.

Anyway it can't hurt to ask.

 

[edfair]

The isue you face is the CD KEY when you do a fresh install from a commercial product. These come from a sticker on the machine or from the key supplied with the new issue. There is always the possibility that the install using the Compaq numbers will be looking for a Compaq CD to install from.
It has been a while since I've done a Compaq.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[tlcscousin]

I have repair installed several Compaq computers with a stock OEM cd and used the key attached to the case. The only issue seems to be that you have to call Microsoft to activate when you go that route.

 

[cdogg]

It all comes down to whether or not XP Pro came preloaded on the Compaq computers, or if they were bought retail and installed later. If they came preloaded, then you will need to use an OEM version of the XP CD for the reinstall. That's because an OEM product key WILL NOT work with a retail or volume license version of the XP CD. The same concept goes for retail, upgrade, and volume license keys too. Obviously, HP/Compaq can only help you with the OEM CD.

Once you get a matching disc, then doing the install shouldn't be a problem. Only if the enough of the core hardware components are changed, will you have to call Microsoft to reactivate each install. If it comes down to that, the call isn't a big deal. They might ask one of two questions about the reason, you can tell them anything, and they'll proceed to give you the activation code.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
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