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    Reinstalling Windows XP Pro: DV2000T

    Discussion in 'HP' started by DV2000T, Jul 8, 2006.

  1. DV2000T

    DV2000T Notebook Consultant

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    ***NOTE: I double posted this message here and in the sticky on top of the forum. I wasn't sure if I was going to get any answers in the sticky one. ****

    Can I use the XP Pro CD I got with the laptop to do the reinstallation? or does it have to be a retail version?
    Thanks for your help.

    p.s. I wasn't going to do this because it seems a little complicated because of the drivers but after getting my laptop yesterday and seeing all the crap HP has put in it, I'm definetely reinstalling XP. Hopefully I can use the XP Pro CD it came with it otherwise I paid an extra $75 for the upgrade from Home to Pro for nothing.
     
    DV2000T, Jul 8, 2006
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  2. miner

    miner Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Yes, you can use the XP Pro disc provided by HP. It is the same as any retail version except it can only be used with the laptop it was sold with.
     
    miner, Jul 8, 2006
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  3. Tiger-Heli

    Tiger-Heli Notebook Evangelist

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    See Bold above /\

    And I'm not really even sure if that limitation applies. You have a licensed copy of XP. You can't legally install it on multiple machines, but I think you could wipe the laptop's HD, install it on another computer, and activate it.

    (But you likely have to call Micro$oft to activate it and tell them you REPLACED all the system components, not that you bought a different computer. (And you should probably re-use the IDE cable or something the first time to keep it really legal.))

    But in short, yes, you can wipe the drive and re-install. (Even better, if you didn't activate it yet (I think it gives you 30 days, at least they used to), then there are definitely no problems.

    Worst case, you might need to call them to get it activated, but again, it is a legitimate licensed copy.
     
    Tiger-Heli, Jul 8, 2006
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  4. Ross_00

    Ross_00 Notebook Guru

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    If you order the laptop configured with XP Home, can you pay $10 for the recovery disc for XP Pro? I wouldn't think so, but the option is there...
     
    Ross_00, Jul 8, 2006
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  5. Tiger-Heli

    Tiger-Heli Notebook Evangelist

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    No, you can't. Select it and try to continue. Try it - it's fun. :D

    Dell does this too, don't know why.
     
    Tiger-Heli, Jul 8, 2006
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  6. Ross_00

    Ross_00 Notebook Guru

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    [​IMG]

    Yeah, I guess there's no missing that...
     
    Ross_00, Jul 8, 2006
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  7. DV2000T

    DV2000T Notebook Consultant

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    Great. For a moment I thought I was going to have to buy another Windows XP Pro. I also thought that the CD I got had the Windows XP and all the crappy software (bloatware) mixed together.
    Now, I only need to read the "Reinstallation Guide" thread and make sure I do it right.
    I haven't activated my XP yet so I guess that's one less thing I'll have to worry about.

    Thanks for the answers.
     
    DV2000T, Jul 9, 2006
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