I just purchased a used laptop from a government auction. Of course, they did a total formatting of the Hard Drive. But the computer did come with the original serial key for the windows xp that was on there from the factory. I was wondering since I have the serial key that came with the original OS, if I just could download the windows xp install disc and enter my own serial, or try to borrow someone elses install disc and do the same thing. Or do the discs each only work with there own specific keys? And no, I don’t want to try to install an illegal copy or anything like that, if it comes to that I’ll just buy a new copy… but please if someone knows if either of my methods i was thinking would work, please let me know! Thanks for reading all of this rambling…
Originally posted 2009-06-14 01:17:32.
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All the CD’s are exactly the same. If you use someone else’s disc with that serial it should work perfectly fine.
No it’s not illegal, when you buy a new license you’re basically buying that Product Key.
The only thing that would be different about the cds is if it’s Home or Pro.
you can use any disc. the product key number is the only thing that matters because you have to register it at some point.
use the same edition of your copy of the windows you own .then you can use your key normally,
remember the same edition
sp1 or sp2 or media center or home edition(sp1-sp2)