w3j product key

hey i was just wondering if i took somebodies window XP CD and reformatted my w3j and when it asks for a product key to activate... can i use the one on the bottom of my laptop or will i have to purchase the XP CD myself and use the product key that came with that??

 

Nope, the key there is not usable by just the number underneath the W3.

You can only install windows via the restore CD.

edit: Exception=OEM as noted below.

 

if they are corresponding versions with corresponding service packs (like, both are windows xp home w/ sp2 then install windows with the cd and the cd key that comes with the CD, Then follow this guide:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874/
and change it back to the one on the bottom of your notebook. as far as i know, this should work.

 

I have a strong feeling that if you can get a Windows XP (Home or Professional, depending on what the notebook came with) SP2 OEM, you could use the key on the bottom of the notebook directly (during installation). So, in addition to what gusto5 says, I'm quite sure it also has to be an OEM kit for the key to work directly.

I haven't tried it yet, so I can't say for sure whether this works or not.

 

Yup, you can do it. I actually used my DELL Inspiron e1505's Windows XP cd so that I can do a clean install without any of the preinstalled programs into it and partition my hardrive the way I want it and use the NTFS format using the utility in Windows XP CD boot up before installation. I only ended up having a Dell folder in C and deleted it. Then you are ready to install the drivers.

After installation, I click on "activate by telephone" and change the xp key using the key at the bottom of the keyboard. save it and restart your computer. then you can activate using the internet.

i got no issues after installing xp using the dell's xp cd but it seems i feel that it is a bit faster than using the recovery cd of Asus and it is so clean without the preinstalled programs and install only the ones that i want.

 

To get a clean installation (however on a FAT32) it suffices if you use the recovery CDs but do not insert the drivers & utils CD when it requests it. Upon the next boot, you will have a clean, fresh XP installation, no drivers and "utilities" that you will never use.

 

Ditto..... it needs to be an OEM copy of XP Pro w/ SP2 and the numbers will work.

 

well doesnt an OEM copy of XP Pro come with the product keys??? all im asking is im trying to avoid the 100+ dollars for XP PRO when i thought i can simply get some1 elses (friend) xp cd and use my key to activate it....

 

Well, first and foremost the first "recovery cd" is simply an xp pro install disk that's automated.... that's it... you could use that. If you go out and buy a copy of xp pro, either you have a lot of extra money floating around or you're trying to do some super install that you can't do with the recovery disk...... you know the recovery disc isn't like a dell recovery disc where there's a whole bunch of crap that's loaded onto your system, you know that right?

 

I have used the V6j recovery disk several times and it takes a while, but other than that the isntall that it comes up with is really nice. I would take it over any other install I have seen on a laptop. Ever.

 

My point was: get hold of an OEM copy from a friend/somewhere you don't have to pay for it. And then install it using the key on the back of the notebook. I'm unsure how legal this is for the duration that you have both the recovery disks and the OEM XP kit in your possession, but after you give the OEM cd back the installation is perfectly legal.

But, to avoid complications, if you want a clean XP install, just do as I suggested later on: install from recovery CDs, don't insert the drivers disk when requested. Then you'll have a clean copy of Windows. I don't know what more you would want.

Except NTFS of course, but do a search on the forum and you'll find a good way to convert to that as well. Takes less than half an hour on a fresh XP install. And that's the only remaining drawback of the recovery CDs over a normal installation kit.

 

got it thanks guys...