[speedy1]

I have a PC that was made just for Best Buy (a vpr Matrix w/ about a 2.8 MHz Pentium 4) which I purchased back in 2002 I think. It did not come with a Win XP CD. I believe that there is a folder on my hard drive that possibly could be used to restore XP, but I haven't been able to figure out just how. Over the years, the PC has exhibited many signs of strange behavior, and I'm afraid there's some sort of deeply-embedded spyware or virus that my antivirus software and antispyware don't seem to have removed. I had a teenager in the house who probably downloaded who knows what that could be the culprit. I'm afraid that it may have affected the Windows restore files. I called Best Buy's support line to see if there was a way I could get an XP CD for my PC ; they no longer provide any sort of support for the vprMatrix PCs; they suggested I contact Microsoft who offered to sell me a new copy of XP.

I had decided that I would buy a new retail Win XP CD (which I purchased on eBay for about $90; would this be an OEM version?) to use to reload Windows from scratch. I really don't want to give up my license for my installed XP version. Is there some way I can use the new CD to reinstall Windows, but use the old Win XP Product Key, so I will still have the capability to install the new XP CD (w/ it's unique Product Key) on another PC?

[ARock84]

What version of XP is on the machine and What version of XP did you buy?

[speedy1]

XP Home on the PC and XP Home w/SP2 was purchased.

[ARock84]

Well since it is the same product you should be anle to install it with the old product key, with no problems. Why not just use the new product key though?

[speedy1]

Well, I just thought might need to use it for dual booting on a new Vista PC I'm thinking about purchasing. Are you sure that just entering the old product code with the new XP CD will work and be recognized at a certified/recognized version by Microsoft for Windows Update and such? Thanks for your help!

[ARock84]

It should work. Just make sure that you use a product key. I knwo manufactures put codes on cases, but they are not always the proper product keys to install. I have used one key to install XP PRO over 20 times now and have had no problem. And if it dosnt work you can always use the key that came with it! So it will still install.

[earthbru]

I had a similar situation several years ago.

I contacted Dell via live chat and they sent me a disk for free.

This was about two years after I had purchased the computer and as I said this was several years ago.

[earthbru]

I'm sorry, I know that Dell makes computers for Best Buy and I made an illogical jump when I read your post.

[ARock84]

Even after the install, if there ever is a problem and the product will not activate all you have to do is call MS and tel them your hard drive crashed and you had to reinstall the OS. Give them the activation code and then they will give you another number to enter. And thats it, it will work like it should :)