Win XP Install And Serial Key Question

[sh1ft3d]

I'm getting ready to purchase a new machine and load XP onto it, but have 2 questions about the install of XP (for 2 different situations):

1) Is there ever a case where a particular serial key is tied to the CD from which it came? In other words, say I purchased Win XP originally when it first came out in 2001, however I lost that original disk. Could I borrow a disk from a friend who purchased it recently in last few months and use that same key that I have from 2001? Do the new builds/service packs come into play at all here?

2) Also, say I purchased a machine from Dell with XP installed. Can I use a Windows XP disk not acquired from Dell to reload Windows on that machine using the key I got from Dell?

 

[sh1ft3d]

btw, this is concerning XP Prof 32-bit.

 

[Guest]

1. The XP CD must match the Product Key. ie: Windows XP Pro OEM CD must have a Windows XP Pro OEM Product Key.

2. Yes, but you'll have to call MS to activate and again the CD and Product Key types must match.

Grumpy

 

[sh1ft3d]

So the product key is tied to the CD from which it came? I'm fairly certain I've installed XP using a key that did not come from the CD I used to install it...

 

[sturm]

The key must match the version of the cd that your using. If you purchase an OEM copy of xp you must use an OEM product key. A corpoerate version cd will need a corporate product key and a single user license will need a single user key.
The cd key is not tied directly to that disk, just the version/kind of disk that the key will work with.

 

[sh1ft3d]

I understand... makes sense and thanks for clarifying. In review of the thread that is what Grumpy was alluding to and I just didn't pick it up.