BleepingComputer.com: Installing XP Home with OEM disk and HP key?

I meant ** XP HOME ** not HP Home. So sorry. Mod Edit: Changed title ~ Hamluis.

I'm starting a new, streamlined thread, because my other one got SO convoluted.

I have an HP Pavilion 750n for my backup computer. My registry went completely wacko last year, including my original XP Home, because of a stupid uninstaller program, which I may have used stupidly in addition. So the guy who rescued me reinstalled XP Home using an OEM key. I know it's not cool for me to have an OEM key, so I want my original HP key back on it. And no, I don't have the original HP disk (I bought the computer used), nor any recovery disks with the original HP key.

Somebody recently loaned me an XP Home disk and said it was a "generic retail disk," but it looks like it IS an OEM disk. It says "for distribution with a new PC only. For product support, contact the manufacturer of your PC." So no support from MS, thus it's not retail? But it doesn't say HP, nor any other brand.

Could I use this for putting my HP key on the machine with a reinstall? (HP recovery disks for this old model are not available.)

Thanks a lot.

This post has been edited by hamluis: 09 August 2011 - 10:04 AM

It should work fine. Use the key code that is on the sticker on your system.

Here is a link for your drivers. Looks like XP will detect & install everything but the modem.

Make sure that you download and install all updates and servvice packs right away. If the cd does not say that it contains any service packs I think you have to install SP 2 before SP3. Microsoft should hand it all to you but it will take some time to install it all.

Thank you, Eyesee! The CD does say SP2, but I'll be sure to d/l SP3 to a CD to install before going online with just SP2. Don't want any viruses, or virii either, for those who are sticklers for Latin. And extra thanks for the tip/link for the modem driver!

AND a thanks to hamluis for changing my huge DUH of a mistake in the subject title. After all these posts, HP and XP start to run together.

This is one ex-cel-bleepin'-lent forum.

Last question, which may be a tad off topic from this thread -- I want to first wipe my hard drive really well. Can I use a program of my choice such as Ccleaner, DBAN, etc. or should I use the command prompt like I did for reinstalling Win 7? Thanks in advance.

you could wipe / delete your partition at WinXP setup, there will be a option for you to do that.

Agreed
Just delete the partition as part of the installation process & recreate it.
Then format it with NTFS and do the quick format. Otherwise it will take a long time.

OK, thanks Abauw and Eyesee. It's only an 80GB drive, but I'll do as you suggest. It sounds much better to me to eliminate a step. Much appreciated!

I've downloaded SP3 and an ISO of all updates, and will probably get to work on the install later this evening. I feel much more comfortable with the advice from all the bleepsters!

We will keep the light on for you if you need help!

Should be pretty straight forward though.
Disconnect your printer beforee you install XP and then run the cd for it. Dont connect the USB cable until it prompts you to.

Hi again all. The installation took a few tries, as it didn't want to copy some files, but it finally completed.

BUT, even though I put in my original 25-digit key from my HP COA sticker, the "other" key, the one shown when right-clicking My Computer > Properties, still has the block of three characters as OEM. Is that a problem? It activated fine on the MS activation site. Am I totally legal despite it still saying OEM for the other key or code or what have you, as long as I have my own COA key?

Thanks!

As long as it activated I would say you are fine.

Check your install cd for dirt & scratches.
Many times that is the case when it wont copy files.
Clean the cd if needed and of it is scratched get a scratch repair kit.
CHeck your local Dollar Store or Bit Lots. Sometimes they have scratch repair kits for under 10 bucks.

Great. Thanks again for everything!

The key is OEM, just as mine are. My licenses are MS OEM/System Builder licenses...your license is an HP license which is OEM by definition.

"OEM" differentiates from a retail license in that the license cannot be moved to another system, whereas a retail license can or could be (at one time).

The only thing that matters is successful activation.

The CD used to install Windows XP only becomes a problem, in my experience, when the key is embedded in the install media...or the install CD is prepared by the system manufacturer (recovery/restore/etc. disks).

Oem, Upgrade, Academic, And Full Versions of software - http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/difference-between-oem-academic-full-versions/

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/oemeula.htm

Louis

Thanks so much for all the great info!

Indeed, it activated in a flash with my HP key, before I even knew what was happening, so the MS folks are seeing it as fine, and that's fine by me. It IS the product key (the 25-digit key) which I essentially paid for when I bought the computer from my friend, and which my friend paid for when he bought the computer new at a big box store.

One final question (I think) -- can I now make a viable XP recovery CD from the recovery console? Or would that only work with the original XP install which came on the HP computer, as in, would it be proprietary? (I don't have the original XP install, because I lost everything on my original hard drive last year, before I learned the art of cloning.)

Thanks!

This post has been edited by floridaze: 16 August 2011 - 10:07 AM

You cannot make a recovery cd via the recovery console. There never was an option for that.

What I do frequently is to use my OEM disk with a customers licence.
That is what you have done.

If you used an original HP recovery disk there would be an option to create recovery disks somewhere in the HP software. But since you used an OEM cd those options will not exist.
One advantage of doing it the way you did is that you do not get all the junk software that HP installs on their systems.

If your friend doesnt mind, you could make a copy of their disk and use it with your licence just as you did now.
Make sure to ask them first though. That is only the right thing to do.

If you make a copy of the CD you used to do the install...for yourself...there is no need for "recovery/restore disks".

It's perfectly legal to do such.

The O/S HP installed...used recovery disks. That option diesappeared when you changed the hard drive.

Louis

I was sure that I saw an option somewhere in XP to create a recovery/restore/repair/something along those lines disk(s), but you guys obviously know a lot better than I do!

I didn't know that I could legally copy the XP disk. Thanks a lot for reassuring me that it's perfectly legal. Yes, good idea to check with the loaner of the disk first, even if he's not the most scrupulous guy himself when it comes to using keys over and over and/or "acquiring" them from who knows where. (Rest assured, I've not taken him up on any of his offers to get me any keys!)

And if I copy the disk, I'll most definitely not use it on anybody else's machine, even if they have their own legit key, unless I'm allowed to loan it to somebody who will do exactly that, just as I did with my own very legit key?

Thanks again, very much, for everything. I can always count on this forum for in-bleepin-comparable info!