Lost Windows XP cd

[squarenuts]

New guy has just been stationed with me here at Ft Knox. While unpacking his house hold goods, his XP CD has gone MIA. I need to reinstall XP and all I have is the OEM product sticker with his key numbers.

The only other mark on the case is a sticker with the words "titan technologies" on it. I think this is just some mom and pop store or from some computer fair vendor.

Do I have any options with getting another cd or some how using my copy to get windows reinstalled?

[ErnieK]

As far as I know if you have the relevant key number then you should be able to install using your disk and his number. To my (uncertain) knowledge the disks are not tied to a specific key but the registration to MS is.

[deddard]

As ErnieK pointed out, there should be no problems. The only time there'd be any difference is if one were xp home and the other xp pro, or if one had a service pack (this may make a differene)
I used to do this all the time with 98, and the only time I had a problem was when I tried to put in a key from a 1st edition onto a 2nd edition install.

give it a go - it certainly won't do any harm if the system is in such a state that it needs re-installation!

[squarenuts]

The case sticker is an OEM version. And I have a retail upgrade cd. Will this work or do I have to fine a OEM CD?

[classicsoftware]

The onnly problem may be activation. If you have to call MS for activation.

If the machine is working, you may be abke to get the data onto a CD. The files reside in the I386 folder.

[squarenuts]

You know the drill they had broadband, no firewall out of date antivrius. It was a real mess. So just use my retail cd to install XP and when it come to the codes, just give MS a call and read them off the numbers on the case?

[deddard]

Sounds like a good plan to me, but it may not come to the phone line. If you've configured it with a firewall now (a free one such as ZA), you could just let the online activation do the job - there shouldn't be a problem if it accepts the key during installation, as it would have already been registered to the same machine.