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Thread ID: 55424 2005-03-10 05:33:00 Recovey 4 Windows XP Home Christopher (365) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
332635 2005-03-10 05:33:00 hi, I'd like to restore my PC the way it was when I bought it. I'd like to start over.I don't have a windows Product key but used a program called winkey for XP and that retrieved my key.What I'd like to know is, can there be any side effects, meaning the key is invalid.I just want to be sure.thank-you :help: Christopher (365)
332636 2005-03-10 05:53:00 Technically it should be OK, as that was the key assumedly used for the original install.

However if the key was dodgy then, it still will be now.

If it does not match the XP media you have, there could be an issue.

Curiously the key returned for my laptop is not the key on the COA sticker on the laptop, but I assume the sticker one would work, never had to try. It is remotely possible that install keys may differ to the keys needed for supplied media, but by the time you find out it's too late.

Do you not have a sticker on the PC case?

Perhaps run the Windows validation first?
www.microsoft.com
godfather (25)
332637 2005-03-10 05:58:00 Yes there is a sticker there but it's definitely not the same as the one given by the program I used to Scan with. Christopher (365)
332638 2005-03-10 06:19:00 That is the issue I was referring to.

It should be the number for the XP CD though, the stickers come with the CD.

I suspect pre-loaded systems may use a generic key, that may not work with a reinstall using the supplied media?

But - do you have a real XP CD or manufacturer supplied "recovery" CD(s). The recovery CD's may not always need the CD Key, if they are BIOS linked (as the CD would not then work on a different PC anyway)

Perhaps if you cared to mention the make and model of PC, someone could help more specifically. Situations differ.
godfather (25)
332639 2005-03-10 06:24:00 It's a HP Pavillion Desktop Pc with the following specs:

Pentium 4
2.8GHZ
504RAM
Christopher (365)
332640 2005-03-10 06:35:00 So - these are "HP recovery CD's" and not a Microsoft XP CD? godfather (25)
332641 2005-03-10 17:16:00 Yes, I made two recovery disks when I First Turned on the Pc and I have a recovery Partition.My Pc model is a HP t460a. Is it true that Recovery Partitions can only be used once or twice. Christopher (365)
332642 2005-03-10 19:38:00 There should be no limitation on the use of recovery partitions, the main issue usually is people deleting them.

I would guess that no activation of XP will be needed when using the recovery CD, and that the CD key from the sticker on the case would work just fine. Ignore the number recovered from the system by that program, it's the factory install master code that probably will not work on the recovery CD.
godfather (25)
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