Quote:
Originally Posted by carnageX  But you can use a regular OEM XP disc for any machine, can't you? I've done it tons of times w/ the OEM disc I have, on several different machines (a few HP's, Compaqs, and Gateways). I haven't had to reenter the serial on all of them, but when I've had to, I've just had to call M$ and tell them that I reformatted the drive/get them to reactivate Windows for me. Unless I'm totally missing what you guys are arguing about. But from what I understand is that you are arguing that you can't use an OEM disc on any machine? Unless you mean an OEM disc that actually came with the manufactured PC..that I can see that it won't work on any other brand, but a regular OEM disc does work, b/c I've done it myself. I could be way off the point of what you guys are arguing (debating may be a better word =P) about, though. |
oem recognizes almost every xp serial of that version (Home or Pro). I know that it doesn't recognize ibm and lenovo keys, but it does recognize dell, hp, sony, gateway etc.
xp regular retail will recognize a lot of keys too, but not as many as OEM. which is what I said in the first place.
atomic tofu will always try to turn every subject into an argument. he swears that he knows everything. I was telling mak that when they came with those post sp2 keys that the the disc was still backward compatible with the old serials, but the new serial wasn't not compatible with the old sp1 discs