Win XP product key

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kandjc

119 posts

Master Geek

#129238 8-Sep-2013 14:27

I have 2 XP computers with their product key on each box and have 2 genuine XP sp2 disks and I don't know which disk belongs to which key. I am planning on reformatting and reinstalling XP on one box - how do I find out which disk belongs to which key? Or doesn't it matter?
Thanks

mikenzb

371 posts

Ultimate Geek

#891632 8-Sep-2013 14:37

As long as they are the same edition of windows xp it shouldn't matter, I think...

eg. 1 key for windows xp home edition/1 key of windows xp professional....
now that wouldn't work if u used the home edition key on the professional install...

kandjc

119 posts

Master Geek

#891633 8-Sep-2013 14:55

They are both xp home with sp2.

nitrotech

1285 posts

Uber Geek

#891635 8-Sep-2013 15:01

if you want to know which license in currently installed on each machine then download a programme called 'produkey'

Jemahl

33 posts

Geek

#891638 8-Sep-2013 15:36

mikenzb: As long as they are the same edition of windows xp it shouldn't matter, I think...

kandjc: They are both xp home with sp2.

This is true, and means you're pretty much covered! :)

And like nitrotech suggested, a key checker is useful if you want to make sure the OS you have matches the sticker on the case. These types of program are usually totally legal in so far as they just display the key, and they don't do anything nefarious with it.

The only issue you may have is if one key is OEM, and the other is Retail. ie: One computer came with XP Home pre-installed from the factory whereas the other has a copy of XP Home bought from a store which has been installed as an upgrade to a previous version of windows (such as Win98).

All that means is that you'll just have to re-install using the other disc. The computer would have to be fairly antiquated for the latter case to be true though.