Re: Used an off-the-shelf XP Home CD to re-install on a laptop W/OEM K

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HP and Compaq Desktop PCs - Obtaining a Recovery CD or DVD set
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?product=71013&lang=en&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&docname=bph07143

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Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

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"funnybroad" wrote:

| I reformatted and re-installed Windows on a friend's Compaq laptop using my
| own personal XP Home CD (Full version) thinking I could use the product key
| from the sticker on the laptop. I couldn't finish installing it, because it
| wouldn't accept the product key from the sticker. So to finish the job, I
| just used the product key that came with my CD, thinking I could change it
| later (they need the laptop back the next morning).
|
| Since then I haven't been able to figure out how to get the key changed (and
| microsoft's people in india weren't much help.)
|
| They found their original CD with the OS on it, but I think it will totally
| wipe the whole laptop clean (although I haven't seen it yet... they still
| need to bring it to me)
|
| So I have 2 questions (so I can be ready to quicky change the key once they
| bring the laptop back to me):
|
| 1) What is the easiest/fastest way to get the product key changed to the
| correct one from the OEM sticker on the laptop?
|
| 2) If I am able to use their XP Home CD that came with the laptop, and it
| doesn't force you to do a total wipe and re-install, then does running
| Windows XP Home setup again wipe away all their profiles and re-installed
| programs I just re-did for them?
|
| Thanks in advance for your help!!
.

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