xp pro licence help!!!!!!

[nicky ford]

I have just got a wiped laptop off ebay it comes with a xp pro licence but no software.I misread the ad & thought it came with the software? (silly moo) Is it possible for me to use a friends copy of xp pro in the laptop. I think her copy is a dell one & this laptops a Toshiba satelite 6100 any other suggestions welcome. It was for a child so I didn't want to spend loads . I cant send it back either

[mattie]

If you have got a genuine XP Pro licence key, then you can install from another CD, not sure if the dell one will work, as it may be a restore cd for the laptop, not just an XP cd.

[Cockney_si]

Yeah should work as most restore CD's are just re-badged windows CD's anyway.
The only problem is that if the dell one is not professional version the code won't work and vice versa.

[nicky ford]

It did state i comes with genuine licence if i manage to get hold of some ones cd & not tha backup/restore one will I encounter any problems along the wat? Do I need to enter thier cd key number ect.....

[daffy654]

I'm almost positive that a Dell copy of XP will only work on a Dell PC.

[nicky ford]

Is there any way of finding out if its a genuine licence? I would have grounds to return it if its not. The company it was purchased from do have a policy for refunds if not entirely happy & ebay could help because it would be advertised as genuine when is not.

[vehelpfulguy]

There is not just one "version" of Windows XP Pro.

There is the Retail Boxed version, the OEM version, the "enterprise" version and a "developers" version (maybe others).

You would need to make sure that the license key you have matches the CD you try to install from.

If it is the "wrong" CD it will reject they license key.

My GUESS is that it is the OEM version (but I have nothing to base it on)

Note you may have to download some drivers from the Toshiba web site or some of the laptop components will not work.

Windows does contain basic drivers like graphics and sound but not the more obscure drivers that you need on laptops.

[Cockney_si]

I've seen this done before on a dell pc that was restored and the xp on the dell was originally on windows xp home and the cd was from another make computer that had given p the ghost and windows xp professional and the code was used from the other make computer.

[Cockney_si]

You may have to phone microsoft to activate windows, you will have to quote the licence code from the computer and they shall be able to activate it, if you explain to them that the computer is second hand then that would be ok.

[LeMarchand]

The Dell CDs will only work in Dell machines in my experience. If you can obtain a copy of XP of the same sort as the license key (see vehelpfulguy's post above) then it will work.

As he says, you'll need to update various drivers. Spookily, I'm currently upgrading the same model laptop from 2K to XP as I write (though I have - legitimately, I work in a school - a Volume license copy of XP).

The Tosh Euro site doesn't seem to have the drivers for the SP6100 by the way, though they are on the US site. (Hopefully there's no weird regional differences!)

[ACtheTROLL]

Firstly .... If the advert said it comes with XP ... then that's what should happen ... the company you bought it from should supply the software (generally pre-loaded)

I hope you payed by credit card ... cause that will make disputes much easier to resolve.

The dell CDs are generally "slipstreamed" ... and it will depend on the version ... some have the drivers added ... some just have the drivers specific to dells.

I'f the software is XP Pro ... any CD will work
(VHG is almost right ... there are different versions) ...
but as long as THAT laptop came with a copy of XP Pro ... you are entitled to XP - and almost every copy of XP pro will install (except for the corporate version)

microsoft should even replace a damaged or lost CD if you can quote the serial number (generally on a sparkly sticker)

your biggest problem will be rounding up all the drivers ... some of the big electricals sell machines that have "tied" drivers ... The software costs are kept down because they don't supply updated drivers ... so if they are supplied with 98 ... that's the only OS that drivers exist for.

(the Laptop makers are in on the deal and modify the PnP info on the component so that the hardware thinks it's something else and won't use the "standard" driver - even though it's the correct one)

this means that the only "upgrade" is a new machine

so If it came with 2000 or 98 ... you could be on dodgy ground.

[nicky ford]

Thanks for all the advice I have now got xp installed. My problem now is the wireless conection. Apparently because the xp I have is not the toshiba installed version the LAN Card wont work it needs tweeking?

[ACtheTROLL]

yep

look on the tosh site