Windows XP MCE serial works for XP sp2?

[Tuork]

Here's the deal, my brother has an HP computer that came with Windows XP Media Center Edition. It's been really dodgy lately (lost speaker sound and wireless capability) so I'm going to format it for him, problem is he doesn't have any installation CD's.

Can I use an XP sp2 cd I have but use the serial that came with his computer?

Just to be on the safe side, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT PIRACY.

Thanks.

[LTech221]

Needs to be an MCE oem install disc for that key to work.

[Tuork]

Dammit.
You positive?

[SLippe]

I don't think it'll work. It needs to be an MCE key, not just an XP Home or Pro key. I could be wrong.

(I've tried other XP Pro 'non-Corp. Ed.' keys on my Corporate Edition that didn't work. It has to be a Corp. Ed. key for me)

[Tuork]

Ah, crap.

Would it be against forums rules if I ask someone to help me find a torrent for XP MCE and PM it to me? I've tried to locate one, but they are all XP Sp2 in disguise.

Keep in mind, I have an ORIGINAL CD KEY that came with the laptop, it's just it didn't come with backup CD's (HP wankers...). I personally don't think it's piracy, but if mods see otherwise, let me know.

:)

[SLippe]

Over the years, I have yet to see a torrent for MCE that wasn't a pain in the arse to get to work. Do you actually use the features that MCE offers or is it that you're just wanting to use your CD key and not go "another way"?

[CaptNKILL]

I think we should avoid talking about downloading CD images and such here. With a legit key its really hard to find any fault in it IMO, but the law is the law and honestly, we don't know if your key is legit so it isn't for us to decide.

So, sorry, no torrents or links in this thread.

[Bman212121]

Have you tried calling HP? They might be able to get you the reinstallation discs for the pc. Also most HPs have the whole cd's contents on a recovery partition, so you just boot into the recovery side and reload the pc.

[S.SubZero]

Doesn't HP use a recovery partition? During boot there may be an option to boot from that and do a full re-do of the OS partition.

The way OEM installs usually work, is MS will assign a bunch of keys to the OEM, and a special XP install that will only answer to those keys. So say, Dell, has their own XP keys, MCE keys, Vista keys, etc. When the Dell owner does an install, the code on the disc checks the BIOS, and if it's a Dell it activates automatically, like a volume key. The user never enters the key directly.

So you would not only need an XP MCE disc, you'd need one specific to HPs. If HP doesn't normally provide discs to their users, getting one may be difficult. Check for a restore partition option on boot.

[LTech221]

It still works as long as its an OEM disc, for XP versions atleast. Ive used DELL OEM discs on nearly every brand out there, also used HP OS OEM discs on the same. You just need to re-enter the key and 90% of the time it will activate fine. The other times u just call it in and that works.

[Tuork]

Over the years, I have yet to see a torrent for MCE that wasn't a pain in the arse to get to work. Do you actually use the features that MCE offers or is it that you're just wanting to use your CD key and not go "another way"?


Spot on.

@CaptN: I understand your concerns, I can assure you I own a legit copy. I can take a picture of the lappy's underside if you want (blurred, of course!), but you're right. No torrent links shall be seen here.

I hadn't thought about the recovery partition thinger. I'm going to look into that later today.
I'll also try giving HP a call.

Ugh, I fracking hate tech-support.

Thank you all for the input.

[omg_dastard!]

ill swap you my XP key for your MCE key?

Fully legit. Always wanted MCE :D

[Tuork]

Sorry I never got back at this.
Thanks to those who helped me out. Bro's pooter is purring away right now, except it has apparently fallen victim to actual hardware issues that fudge up the speakers and the WLAN card... he's calling tech support to sort that out. Hopefully warranty is still valid.

@dastard: Sorry, alreayd using the MCE serial, but thanks anyways!

[ViN86]

Ah, crap.

Would it be against forums rules if I ask someone to help me find a torrent for XP MCE and PM it to me? I've tried to locate one, but they are all XP Sp2 in disguise.

Keep in mind, I have an ORIGINAL CD KEY that came with the laptop, it's just it didn't come with backup CD's (HP wankers...). I personally don't think it's piracy, but if mods see otherwise, let me know.

:)
yes. obtaining the media improperly is still illegal. just because you own the key, does not mean you own the media.

Have you tried calling HP? They might be able to get you the reinstallation discs for the pc. Also most HPs have the whole cd's contents on a recovery partition, so you just boot into the recovery side and reload the pc.
this is the path you should go imo.