Cheapest place to buy XP keys?

[mrapoc]

As the title says

Bulk would be ok as long as its not too expensive, its just for building/fixing pcs

Also

If the user already has the XP serial (stuck to side of case for example) but has lost the cd, i know that different oems will have a different set of keys

Is there a way of using that dell serial with a retail disk, so technically it is legal as the user owns the license.

[PeterStoba]

To my knowledge, if you have a key you can use any media you want to install it.

[monkey7]

But the serial cannot be used without having the sticker on the case of the machine it's installed on. If it's transferred from one case to another it would be a sold OEM key, which isn't legal.

[nathan]

Originally Posted by name='PeterStoba'

To my knowledge, if you have a key you can use any media you want to install it.

With XP you have 3 types of licenced copies.

OEM

Retail

VLK

You need the media to match up with the key type, although i remember a while back reading up on something like this, not sure on how legal it is though.

[mrapoc]

i meant install windows using my cd i have

but

use the license on the client's pc so its "their" copy so to speak

I recently tried it with an xp home cd with the dell license on the case

kept telling me it was invalid (?)

[Pseudonym]

A copied disk isn't illegal in itself. The lack of a legit key is where problems start.

As Nathan said, you need the correct version of XP for the serial on the case to work. I imagine you'd need a Dell CD for a Dell comp. It may also be that there are different versions of the Dell CD.

You can probably d/l a version of a Dell restore CD. Just make sure it's not a cracked version. You want to be able to type in the legit serial.

[mrapoc]

so as long as i have a copy of dell oem xp home

dell oem xp pro

oem home

oem pro

i should be good to go on reinstalling ANY xp system

[Pseudonym]

That sounds right, but MS aren't known for their simplicity and ease of use, so don't be surprised if it doesn't work.

[mayhem]

just contact dell for a new cd esp if it s a business. or alternately download the dell iso.