Installing new drive in XP pro...

Hi all,
I am about to replace the hard drive in my niece's Toshiba laptop with a brand new one. Her drive has all but completely failed. I was however able to recover some of her important data using a HD to USB adapter.
My question is... What do I need to do a fresh install of XP pro on this machine? All she has is a recovery disk. I have an OEM copy of XP pro that is registered to my computer. Can I load the software from my disk on her computer and register it using her info? (Please note that all of our licenses are legit. I am not trying to steal any software here.)
The other option I saw was an HD upgrade kit on newegg.com that you can buy together with a replacement drive. That might work, but I do not have a lot of faith in the old drive surviving long enough to do the upgrade. Besides I would rather start fresh if I can.
Thanks in Advance,
Phil

Can you use a restore disk on a completely new drive? I didn't think you could. I thought there were issues with that like missing files, etc.
I thought the restore disks were stripped versions of the OS. Perhaps I am ill-informed but I've never had the misfortune to have to use one until now.

So are you saying all I have to do is change the drive and then run the recovery disk and I am good to go? That sounds too easy.

+1.

The recovery disks only worth with that brand of computer (and usualy just the model). Which HDD doesnt make a difference. As far as the Original OEM disks, they can only be used with the same Brand (and usualy the same model).


Good Luck BigDogues

I think the OP was referring to the "OEM" Win XP CDs you can get for a reduced price with a hardware purchase. Those include the full OS and will work on any system.
Yes, you are correct. That is what I was refering to. They should work as well correct? And as long as the product key for her laptop I should be able to get all the appropriate updates, right?

The CDkey on the laptop belongs to the OEM version of the OS on the recovery disk. Those CDkeys are locked to the manufacture of the computer, such as Emachines, Gateway,.... So although you have an OEM disk, the OEM CDkey from the laptop wont work.

There is only one real option and that is using the recovery disk...

It actualy doesnt affect any OEM manufacturer. New hard drives will work as long as the original OEM disks are used. I personaly guaranty it.

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