I casually work on friends and acquaintances systems. I am in need of copies of XP Home and XP PRO that will use any key that is on the COA on any given box that I am working on. In other words if I am working on box a I need the OS to take the key that is on box a, and also if I am working on box b I need the OS to take the key that is on to COA of box b also.
Many that I work on have lost the restore CD's, but the COA sticker is still on the box itself.
To my understanding this is legit what I am wanting to do, if not please let me know that also.
Thanks for any direction and help.
newguy
XP Home and PRO system builders OS image
One thing that I have seen quit a few times is the key you get using something like the magical jellybean keyfinder doesn't match the one on the sticker. If you use the one on the sticker it won't activate on line and you have to call Microsoft. I see this on laptops that were originally installed using an SLP Disk. If you have the original disk it's not a problem because it pre activates on the PC it came with. If you don't have that disk though it just adds some extra steps to get it activated again. I've had one PC that I did a re-install using a Sp CD and it wouldn't accept the product code on the sticker. I had to start over with a XP home no Sp CD. I keep install Cd's with no Sp's just for doing installs on friends and families PC's. I've heard it said that the XP Sp 3 Cd's will except any code. I don't know how true that is though.
I don't know the same things you don't know. 
Thanks to every one, and yeah send me the PM. I will try them out and get back with you in this thread.Sava700 wrote:I can let you download the ISO of XP Home and Pro OEM that will work with most any key... not sure if it works on Volume license or not. Let me know and I'll shot you a PM with temp links.