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@INTERNET2000 wrote:

Hello,

One of my friends has a Dell Dimension 2350 running Windows XP Home Edition.  They want to format their hard drive because of some of the current problems that they have had for a while.  The problem is they are missing their operating system disk.  They do have the i386 folder on their hard drive that has been on there since it came from the factory.  I kinda remember reading something that would guide me through making a operating system cd to reinstall the operating system with their i386 folder...Can this be done?  Any information you could help me with would be greatly appreciated.  If this can be done would it be better just to go and buy a retail version? 

Any thoughts and advice you may have would be greatly appreciated,

INTERNET2000

You cannot install XP w/o the CD, and to buy a new copy they need to buy the FULL version, not the UPGRADE version.  Close to $200. 

rickmktg,

Thanks for your help! 

INTERNET2000

I'm not suggesting that anyone else do anything that would violate any liscensing agreements but I've done it before and it works.  What should happen is upon the first startup after the reinstallation, the activation notice should come up because you're already got that disk tied to your OS install.  It's been a long time since I've had to do it but I seem to remember there being a place to enter the product key that came with your computer.  This is where you'd put your friend's number in.  That may have been with a retail version though.  I think there is also a way to change your Product ID (different than the Product Key) from within Windows after you've finished installing.

I hope this helps you and your friend out.  I'd really hate to see them swallow another 200 bucks just for a simple reinstall, especially with Longhorn being released sometime in the future.

Or they could just use another Dell XP Home Edition disk and then switch the product key when it comes time to activate it - for free.

Hello,

That isn't violating any license agreements of any kind? 

I thought that you could only use that operating system disk on the computer that it was shipped with...If I would give my friend my Dell Windows XP Home Edition disk to get him up and running he wouldn't even need to activate it since it is a oem copy, correct?

INTERNET2000

Hello Again,

Thanks for all the help and advice you have taken the time to give me.  I appreciate it and I'm sure my friend will too...After all, You just saved him $200.00!

Thanks Again,

INTERNET2000

Message Edited by INTERNET2000 on 08-07-2004 03:29 PM

INTERNET2000,

Your friend's computer should still have the sticker with the Windows XP COA assigned to that computer. If so, the procedure here can be used.