Reinstall OEM with different media???

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Kevin - 31 May 2006 18:54 GMT

Hi,

The situation I've got is 2 machines which came preinstalled with Windows XP
by the manufacturer.

One machine I've had to replace the motherboard, and so reinstall XP Home on
it - the OEM sticker is for XP Home (no service packs) and the system restore
CD that came with the machine won't work due to it having a different
motherboard - is the OEM obliged to provide a XP Home CD and will the same
product key work?

The second machine came with XP Professional SP1 pre-installed and the COA
on the machine states it's for XP Professional SP1 - I have no media for this
either - is it possible to use a XP Professional SP2 CD I have for a third
machine to install it, and will the product key I got with the machine work
or will I have to contact Microsoft for a new product key?

Many thanks

Kevin

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DL - 31 May 2006 19:22 GMT

OEM software is licensed to the sys/hardware it was supplied with, if you
replaced mobo, due to failure, from the same manu you may have some
recourse, otherwise no

In order for the product key to work installation media needs to be the same
version, and since again its OEM you would need to contact PC supplier

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Kevin

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Ron Martell - 31 May 2006 22:23 GMT

>Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>motherboard - is the OEM obliged to provide a XP Home CD and will the same
>product key work?

The manufacturer's obligation is to provide "a method" by which the
operating system can be restored to the "as it left the factory"
condition and the System Recovery CD they provided you with meets
those requirements. In this context the motherboard replacement is
considered the equivalent of a different computer.

If you can locate a generic OEM CD for Windows XP Home you can do a
repair install using that CD and the product key from the sticker on
the machine. You will likely have to do a telephone reactivation of
Windows XP and if so just tell them that you did a repair install
after replacing a failed motherboard.

>The second machine came with XP Professional SP1 pre-installed and the COA
>on the machine states it's for XP Professional SP1 - I have no media for this
>either - is it possible to use a XP Professional SP2 CD I have for a third
>machine to install it, and will the product key I got with the machine work
>or will I have to contact Microsoft for a new product key?

If both are Windows XP Professional OEM version and the CD is a
generic OEM version (no manufacturer's name or logo on the CD) then it
should work. Service Pack level is not relevant in terms of product
key.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

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Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
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