well, everything i have read or experienced has shown that a repair install of XP OEM is difficult or close to impossible and i know this question is best answered on a case by case basis, but i have been running into a lot of systems lately that have XP OEM and are so damaged by virus or spyware that the only option is some kind of re-install.
i
am looking for a fairly quick and legit way to handle these types of situations;
are OEM discs vendor specific?(meaning if it is a dell, do i have to use the disc that dell provides, assuming they provide one at all?)
is there any way to convert a XP Pro disc to a OEM disc so that XP will take the original key on the sticker?( i think i have read about this one somewhere...)
is there a way to reinstall the OS from the I386 or $OEM$ folders on the C: drive?
any advice would be most appreciated.
XP OEM repair install
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FlyingPenguin
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There's nothing difficult about an XP Repair Install, and OEM should be no different unless they don't give you an OS install CD.
There are different kinds of OEM discs. One type that Dell uses is a Volume Licensed OEM Disc and this one is like an XP Corporate XP CD - it requires no activation and no CD key (it uses a volume license Dell key) but it's BIOS locked to Dell PCs only.
They used to give you this CD with some Dells a couple of years ago, but now they don't. If you get a CD at all now (you have to pay extra for it with a Dell) it's usually a standard OEM CD.
I carry around a Home and Pro Dell volume license CD to make it easy to do a Windows re-install in case the client doesn't have a CD. 90% of my clients have Dells (because it's what I recommend). There is nothing illegal about this - this is same CDs that Dell technician carry around for re-installs. As long as you install the correct version (Home or XP) cooresponding to the COA sticker on the Dell PC, this is totally legit.
In my past experience, though, most other OEM XP CDs are intercompatible. For instance I have used a standard Dell OEM (not the Volume licensing one) to re-install WinXP home on eMachine and Compaq PCs using the COA that came with those PCs, but this was SP1 (can't swear it's the same for SP2). I've also used a non-specific OEM CD (the kind that you get with a custom built PC at a mom & pop shop) to install XP on a Dell with the COA on the case.
My advise to you is to just make a copy of some OEM CDs. Nothing illegal about this - you won't be installing it on a system that doesn't already have a legal COA. I've found all I need is an OEM XP Home and Pro CD, and I also carry around the XP Home and Pro Dell Volume License CDs and that covers me in most situations.
There are different kinds of OEM discs. One type that Dell uses is a Volume Licensed OEM Disc and this one is like an XP Corporate XP CD - it requires no activation and no CD key (it uses a volume license Dell key) but it's BIOS locked to Dell PCs only.
They used to give you this CD with some Dells a couple of years ago, but now they don't. If you get a CD at all now (you have to pay extra for it with a Dell) it's usually a standard OEM CD.
I carry around a Home and Pro Dell volume license CD to make it easy to do a Windows re-install in case the client doesn't have a CD. 90% of my clients have Dells (because it's what I recommend). There is nothing illegal about this - this is same CDs that Dell technician carry around for re-installs. As long as you install the correct version (Home or XP) cooresponding to the COA sticker on the Dell PC, this is totally legit.
In my past experience, though, most other OEM XP CDs are intercompatible. For instance I have used a standard Dell OEM (not the Volume licensing one) to re-install WinXP home on eMachine and Compaq PCs using the COA that came with those PCs, but this was SP1 (can't swear it's the same for SP2). I've also used a non-specific OEM CD (the kind that you get with a custom built PC at a mom & pop shop) to install XP on a Dell with the COA on the case.
My advise to you is to just make a copy of some OEM CDs. Nothing illegal about this - you won't be installing it on a system that doesn't already have a legal COA. I've found all I need is an OEM XP Home and Pro CD, and I also carry around the XP Home and Pro Dell Volume License CDs and that covers me in most situations.
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MegaVectra
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MegaVectra
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Re: XP OEM repair install
Originally posted by wpublic
is there any way to convert a XP Pro disc to a OEM disc so that XP will take the original key on the sticker?( i think i have read about this one somewhere...)
http://www.pcabusers.com/forums/showthr ... adid=43595
http://wiki.djlizard.net/Product_IDs
thanks guys,
now i remember about the volume licensing cause the message i would get sometimes when i used the wrong disc told me to use the correct VLK.
megavectra, the link to your post was the one i remember reading about creating xp discs.
what causes the "repair" option to be unavailable during the xp install process (not the first click "r" to repair, but the other one??)
now i remember about the volume licensing cause the message i would get sometimes when i used the wrong disc told me to use the correct VLK.
megavectra, the link to your post was the one i remember reading about creating xp discs.
what causes the "repair" option to be unavailable during the xp install process (not the first click "r" to repair, but the other one??)
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MegaVectra
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You may have a corrupt master boot record.
Boot with the XP installation CD.
When prompted, press R to repair a Windows XP installation.
If repairing a host with multiple operating systems, select the appropriate one (XP) from the menu. If you have only one operating system, enter 1 to select it.
Enter the administrator password if prompted.
To fix the MBR, use the following command:
fixmbr
This assumes that your installation is on the C:\ drive. You will be presented with several scary warning lines the reading of which will make you want to say no. Microsoft is exceptionally vague regarding the conditions under which fixmbr can cause problems although they are clear about the consequences (losing all data on the hard drive), so use this at your own risk.
Type y and ENTER to fix the MBR.
Type exit to leave the recovery console and reboot.
Boot with the XP installation CD.
When prompted, press R to repair a Windows XP installation.
If repairing a host with multiple operating systems, select the appropriate one (XP) from the menu. If you have only one operating system, enter 1 to select it.
Enter the administrator password if prompted.
To fix the MBR, use the following command:
fixmbr
This assumes that your installation is on the C:\ drive. You will be presented with several scary warning lines the reading of which will make you want to say no. Microsoft is exceptionally vague regarding the conditions under which fixmbr can cause problems although they are clear about the consequences (losing all data on the hard drive), so use this at your own risk.
Type y and ENTER to fix the MBR.
Type exit to leave the recovery console and reboot.