ok so i need to re install windows for my friend on his lappy, he doesnt have his cds, so i checked his serial number and its for windows XP home, i do have a windows xp home edition with SP2, if i use his serial with my cd will it work?, if not do i need to use a windows XP home edition (with out sp2) ir is it just not possible?

Why do you need to reinstall XP? Do you plan on formatting 1st or doing a repair installation?

well my friends computer wont start and he has the back up of all his files so im just going to clean install it... so is it possible i also found out the computer is default instll with windows xp home SP2 so thats good i have the cd for that versio n so can i use the lappy serial?

It depends on what type of windows install it is. i mean whether for example, its an OEM version, or corporate version or educational volume, or retail consumer version of windows xp. If the install CD is for example a Dell Windows XP disc, it would only work on Dells. A retail key wouldnt be usable on a corporate version install disk.

The serial isn't tied into the CD itself but you do have to use the correct OS...it would have to be XP Home SP2. You have nothing to lose by trying a repair install: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/... Are you sure it's a software problem & not a hardware problem?

If you do a clean install, you'll need all the drivers for his laptop. You should be able to get them from the manufacturers website. Please let us know if you found someone's advice to be helpful.

"Won't start" is a pretty general problem. What makes you think a reinstall/repair will fix whatever the problem is? Life's more painless for the brainless.