Re: Old HP PC running OEM XP

On Fri, 2 May 2008 08:24:00 -0700, mcstout
<mcstout@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I have an old(10 years) HP Pavilion desktop, running the original XP OS. I
want to reinstall the OS, but do not have any of the original CDs. Can I use
the MS change product key program to create a new key, and then use one of my
legal copies of XP to reinstall the OS?



It depends.

First find your product You can find the Product key with any of
these:

ViewKeyXP www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/ViewKeyXP.exe (for Retail versions
only, and for pre-SP2 versions only)

ProduKey http://nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

AIDA32 http://www.aumha.org/freeware.htm

Everest http://www.lavalys.com/index.php?page=product&view=1

Magical Jellybean www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Belarc Advisor www.belarc.com/free_download.html


Then, you can use a CD you already have in conjunction with the
product key you found *if* the CD matches the installed version with
respect to Home vs. Professional, Retail vs. OEM, and Full vs.
Upgrade. If any of those don't match, your key won't work.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
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