what's the use of COA

I bought a HP NC6000, for some reason it did not come with a recovery disk. I am wondering if I can install a certain copy of Windows XP using the serial number on the COA..

 

Ive used my full XP disc to repair the recovery disc version on this laptop, worked fine, don't recall if I even had to use the COA number. I've also used the COA to re-activate XP after flashing my BIOS. My guess is it should work. (XP home -> XP Home, or Pro -> Pro; Probably not if you're trying to upgrade...)

First PC = Vic-20, 8" 128KB Home-Brew Floppy Drive ... Current Rig = eMachines m6805 ... Quantum Leap?

 

The COA license is just proof that you have a legit copy of the OS in your system. The Product Key on the COA is used when re-installing the OS from CD. Installing from the manufacturer's Recovery CD's should not require you to enter the Product Key, it's a VLK version that manufacturers use to install into computers that is linked to a code in the BIOS. If you have an XP Pro CD (non-recovery CD), then you could enter that Product Key on your COA License and you should be fine.

If you wanted to install Windows 2000 Pro on your notebook, you'd be able to do that as well with your Windows XP Pro COA. You can't install XP using a Win2K COA, not forward compatible, just backwords.

-Vb-

 

I knew someone who had an HP and somehow messed up Windows that it wouldn't boot. It was a disaster. I think she had to order a recovery cd from HP, $30 I think.

Anyways, on your HP computer there should be a preinstalled utility to create a recovery CD. I know it's strange but companies don't include recovery CD's anymore. Even my cousin's Sony VAIO didn't include one but recommends (haha) you make one using their preinstalled software.

 

For HP/Compaq, it depends on the product line. Their Business lines all have Recovery CD's included. I believe their notebook lines also come with CD's, but their Consumer line desktops (Pavilion & Presario) might not come with Recovery CD's anymore (could be wrong).

-Vb-