Lost WinXP CD

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Pat

I've got a Windows XP Professional desktop. I want to install a feature from the CD, but
after an extensive search I realized I lost my Windows XP Professional CD-ROM.

Can I simply buy another WinXP Pro CD and use it? Or are there issues with the serial
number or registration?

Pat
 
On Jul 16, 12:41 pm, "Pat" <pat...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I've got a Windows XP Professional desktop. I want to install a feature from the CD, but
> after an extensive search I realized I lost my Windows XP Professional CD-ROM.
>
> Can I simply buy another WinXP Pro CD and use it? Or are there issues with the serial
> number or registration?
>
> Pat

You only need a serial number if you are reinstalling the operating
system. If you are just installing a feature, its fine. Either way,
you can just buy another CD and use it.
 
"Pat" <pat929@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:u9wx4E%23xHHA.1776@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> I've got a Windows XP Professional desktop. I want to install a feature
> from the CD, but
> after an extensive search I realized I lost my Windows XP Professional
> CD-ROM.
>
> Can I simply buy another WinXP Pro CD and use it? Or are there issues with
> the serial
> number or registration?
>
> Pat
>
>
>


If you have proof of purchase, then MS will sell you another CD at greatly
reduced cost...
How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246
 
you could just borrow one form a freind amd make a copy as long as it is the
same version as you have installed on your computer.
"Pat" <pat929@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:u9wx4E%23xHHA.1776@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> I've got a Windows XP Professional desktop. I want to install a feature
> from the CD, but
> after an extensive search I realized I lost my Windows XP Professional
> CD-ROM.
>
> Can I simply buy another WinXP Pro CD and use it? Or are there issues with
> the serial
> number or registration?
>
> Pat
>
>
 
Glen wrote:

> you could just borrow one form a freind amd make a copy as long as it
> is the same version as you have installed on your computer.


Yes, you can do that. But note that it needs to be more than the same
*version*. It needs to match with respect to Retail vs. OEM., Full vs.
Upgrade, and Home vs. Professional.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup



> "Pat" <pat929@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:u9wx4E%23xHHA.1776@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> I've got a Windows XP Professional desktop. I want to install a
>> feature from the CD, but
>> after an extensive search I realized I lost my Windows XP
>> Professional CD-ROM.
>>
>> Can I simply buy another WinXP Pro CD and use it? Or are there
>> issues with the serial
>> number or registration?
>>
>> Pat
 
"Pat" <pat929@yahoo.com> wrote:

>after an extensive search I realized I lost my Windows XP Professional CD-ROM.

Not to pick on you in particular, but I'm continually amazed at how
many times folks here claim to have "lost" their installation CD.

I'm wondering if they never received one when they bought their NAME
BRAND computer, and if they have it in a hidden partition somewhere on
their drive.
 
"Uncle Grumpy" wrote...
> "Pat" wrote:
>
> >after an extensive search I realized I lost my Windows XP Professional CD-ROM.
>
> Not to pick on you in particular, but I'm continually amazed at how
> many times folks here claim to have "lost" their installation CD.
>
> I'm wondering if they never received one when they bought their NAME
> BRAND computer, and if they have it in a hidden partition somewhere on
> their drive.

My laptop is my work machine, and I keep a shoebox with ALL the important media
installed on it - Windows 2000 Pro, all Adobe software, MS Office, etc. I strongly
recommend this. All downloaded installed programs are backed up.

My XP desktop is not used for work so I took maintenance less seriously, but recently I
decided to take inventory of the programs installed and collect the SW in another
shoebox. Yeah, I can't find some of the SW...

I don't understand what you mean by finding Windows in a hidden partition?
 
"Pat" <pat929@yahoo.com> wrote:

>"Uncle Grumpy" wrote...

>> I'm wondering if they never received one when they bought their NAME
>> BRAND computer, and if they have it in a hidden partition somewhere on
>> their drive.
>My XP desktop is not used for work so I took maintenance less seriously, but recently I
>decided to take inventory of the programs installed and collect the SW in another
>shoebox. Yeah, I can't find some of the SW...
>
>I don't understand what you mean by finding Windows in a hidden partition?

Not Windows... the recovery files. Some manufacturers put those on a
hidden partition. If you received a CD with your system, that's
probably not an option.
 
Pat wrote:
> I've got a Windows XP Professional desktop. I want to install a feature from the CD, but
> after an extensive search I realized I lost my Windows XP Professional CD-ROM.
>
> Can I simply buy another WinXP Pro CD and use it? Or are there issues with the serial
> number or registration?
>
> Pat
>
>


If it was a retail license and you have proof of purchase:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

If it was an OEM license, you should contact the computer's
manufacturer.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
And if it was a generic OEM CD used by a home system builder?

--
A Professional Amateur...If anyone knew it all, none of would be here!
CarGodZeroOne@hotmail.com
Change Alpha to Numeric to reply

"Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message
news:%23GhKP7JyHHA.1204@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Pat wrote:
>> I've got a Windows XP Professional desktop. I want to install a feature
>> from the CD, but
>> after an extensive search I realized I lost my Windows XP Professional
>> CD-ROM.
>> Can I simply buy another WinXP Pro CD and use it? Or are there issues
>> with the serial
>> number or registration? Pat

> If it was a retail license and you have proof of purchase:
> How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246
> If it was an OEM license, you should contact the computer's
> manufacturer.
 
Then it would be the "home system builder", as they take on the OEM
responsibility as the OEM.

NotMe wrote:

> And if it was a generic OEM CD used by a home system builder?
>
 
NotMe wrote:
> And if it was a generic OEM CD used by a home system builder?
>


Then you've no choice but to obtain another unbranded, generic OEM CD.
Unfortunately, I know of no legitimate outlet from which you can
purchase just the CD without an accompanying license.

Perhaps you can find a friend who has the same type of license
(unbranded, generic OEM), and make a copy of his CD to use with your
Product Key. After all, it's the Product Key that represents the
License to use the OS, not the physical CD.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
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