THis really sucks, I lost the Windows CD

V-PV-P State College, PA Member
edited May 2006 in Science & Tech
Okay I had Windows XP Home, and I just found out that I lost my CD for XP, now that I need to format my Drive (AGAIN!). IS there any way to format my drive without losing the windows installation. I have the box and everything, so I have my CD Key, just not the CD. And if there's no way to do this without the CD, would it be okay with Microsoft If I used a Pirated CD, but my Own key, which I will register since you have to to activate it...

Comments

  • WiredWired
    edited May 2006
    format = erase, so no.

    A copy of an XP CD is fine, as the key is the license.
  • V-PV-P State College, PA Member
    edited May 2006
    Wired wrote:
    A copy of an XP CD is fine, as the key is the license.
    :thumbsup:
    All I needed. Now I just need to get the iso from somewhere.... :scratch:
  • skankinredskankinred
    edited May 2006
    I'll send you a copy of xpsp2 if you want.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited May 2006
    A copy of an XP CD is fine, as the key is the license.
    Ensure that the installation software is identical. For instance, an XP Pro key will not work with an XP Home installation. OEM and retail versions are also different and their keys will not translate.
  • skankinredskankinred
    edited May 2006
    You might be able to call microsoft to get a key that would work with whatever copy of windows you find. I remember when I lost the win98 upgrade box with the cd key. I just called microsoft and they gave me a new one over the phone.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited May 2006
    It'll work, but I remember being told by Tex that even though it's just the media that sharing it is still illegal :(
  • QCHQCH Ancient Guru Chicago Area - USA Icrontian
    edited May 2006
    Windows XP... There ae three versions, Home, media, and Pro. Each of those have different licences. Retail, OEM, and Upgrade. The license code is tied to the type of licence and thus the CD. Any Microsoft Windows OEM CD will accept an OEM license. Same for upgrade and retail.

    Typically, MS will NOT send a new Cd without paying for it. A CD can run up to $90 but with some careful searching, you can get a replacement CD for less than $20.
  • pseudonympseudonym Michigan Icrontian
    edited May 2006
    Gahhh, this is annoying to do but not all that hard.

    There are a gagillion different versions that you could install. Home, Pro, no SP, SP1, SP2, media center, OEM, business.... the list goes on and on. The key you have will only work with the same type of install that you originally did (IE XP Home SP1). For example I just recently redid my dads computer and my own. I didn't have the CDs for either of them but I did have the legit keys for both (His off the same computer, mine off of a lappy of ours that no longer functions). I installed Home for his and Pro for mine and neither of the keys work. All you have to do to fix this is to call microsoft during the activation (if the key you inputted didn't work) and you have to read them a string of numbers and then they read back to you a long string to input back in and viola, you are legal and activated again. Kind of a hassle but no big deal really.

    edit// Basically what I'm saying is go hunt down another XP Home CD, install it and then call microsoft when it tells you to if the key doesn't work, tell them the deal, read them the numbers and you'll be fine.
  • GrayFoxGrayFox /dev/urandom Member
    edited May 2006
    Hold on I will pm you a link.

    edit: I have xp home sp2 Version 2004 it will take any key for xp home OEM not retail

    Retail comes in a box and the key and cd are keep in a folder

    OEM is the one that comes with the sticker on the side of your pc

    However its easy to turn a oem copy into a retail copy you just change a value in a ini file located in the I386 folder.

    edit: Check your pm's
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited May 2006
    May I ask why you are formatting to begin with? It may not be necessary. Explain the reason you want to do that - it may be possible for you to avoid it altogether. :)
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