Re: What XP home version is this license label for?



Gammel Gris wrote:


I don't think the boot process actually got that far. Anyway it's too
late now, as I installed Windows 98 just to check that it wasn't a
hardware failure.



I'm afraid that such a test is essentially meaningless. A computer component's working with Win9x/Me is absolutely _no_ indication that it will work with WinXP. Computer components designed for use with Win9x/Me very often fail to meet WinXP's much more stringent hardware quality requirements. In particular, WinXP is quite sensitive to borderline defective motherboards, RAM, and hard drives that may have seemed to have worked fine with Win9x/Me.




Even if "OEM" isn't written anywere on the label? (I think the
computers with 2000 or XP Professional at work have written "OEM" on the
labels.)


CoA labels are affixed to computers by *ONLY* the computer manufacturer, and only to certify the presence of an OEM license. Retail licenses do not come with CoA labels; their Product Keys are on brightly colored labeling attached to the CD's packaging, while the CoA is affixed to the outside of the retail box. No Win98, Win2K, or WinXP Product Key has ever included the term "OEM," although some computer manufacturers might print "OEM" on their labels.



Regardless of language?


No, not regardless of language. Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of CD and/or license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full version CD, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys and CD types cannot be mixed & matched.


Any idea what the line "I.S." means?


Sorry, no.


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Relevant Pages

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