|
|
 FAQ
 Search
 Memberlist
 Usergroups
 Register
 Profile
 Private messages
 Log in
|
|
| Author |
Message |
Victek
Guest
|
 Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:12 am Post subject: Repair/Installs using XP CD question |
 |
|
Doing a repair/install with the XP CD is often the best way to recover the
OS, but it's not always possible because the user doesn't have the media or
the computer only comes with System Recovery Disks that destroy the user's
data. Although I have a number of versions of XP media I don't know which
will accept the user's license key. How many different types of license
keys are there (full, upgrade, OEM?) and how do you identify the media they
work with? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
Barry Watzman
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:01 am Post subject: Re: Repair/Installs using XP CD question |
|
|
Well, there are 4 "editions, XP Pro, XP Home, Media Center and Tablet,
to begin with. And there is retail and OEM. And in the retail
sub-group there is full product and upgrade (OEM is full product only).
Some editions do not come in all sub-variants (e.g. Media Center is
OEM full product ONLY). I ***THINK*** that may be "it". ABOUT a dozen
variants in all, and most people can ignore Media Center and Tablet.
Victek wrote:
| Quote: | Doing a repair/install with the XP CD is often the best way to recover
the OS, but it's not always possible because the user doesn't have the
media or the computer only comes with System Recovery Disks that destroy
the user's data. Although I have a number of versions of XP media I
don't know which will accept the user's license key. How many different
types of license keys are there (full, upgrade, OEM?) and how do you
identify the media they work with? |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Victek
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:31 am Post subject: Re: Repair/Installs using XP CD question |
|
|
| Quote: | All computers come with a way to restore the OS; either media or a hard
drive partition (typically hidden). Granted, "media" might be a restore
CD that destroys everything.
Most OEM installations leave an "I386" folder on the hard drive
somewhere (sometimes in the root, sometimes in \Windows, sometimes in
\Windows\Options\Cabs, sometimes in yet other places. ***IF*** this is
complete (sometimes it is, sometimes it is not), you can burn this to a
CD and it can be used to reinstall Windows. If it's complete, there
will be two setup files in it, Winnt.exe (the DOS setup program) and
Winnt32.exe (the Windows setup program). If you know how, you can even
make your own self booting media, otherwise you will have to boot from
some other bootable CD to start Winnt.exe.
Re: "If I have an OEM version of say XP Home SP2 from one company would
it work with a different OEM's license key where the OS is also XP Home
SP2?"
Usually, but not always. You will probably have to do telephone
activation even if it does otherwise work.
|
Very useful information - thank you! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
