Hello I need to reinstall Windows XP.The problem is I originally lost the media, but I recovered the windows xp key. Is it possible to use my key, but another cd, that wasn't the original? My friend has an extra one that he doesn't need, but he's already installed it. I was wondering if I use that cd, and My XP key, would it install? Thank you

No it will not work. If you registered XP and have the key, and are installing it on the same computer, you might be able to get a replacement from Microsoft. Try their customer support.

As long as they are the same version, any xp key will work with any cd, the cds are pretty much the same. The problem occurs in the version type ... retail keys wont work for oem versions of windows xp and vice versa, neither will work for corporate edition versions, and upgrade version keys wont work with full version windows. So if you have your retail full version of windows xp and his cd is a retail full version, then your key will work with his cd.

First you need to know what version of windows xp his is and what version yours was, XP home edition or Professionial edition. There are also OEM versions that are shipped with pc's such as gateway's or dell's and your key will only work with the XP that shipped with your pc. If your cd key is for XP pro and his is Home edition it wont work, and the other way around. As a last resort if your cd ey doesn't work with his XP disk, you can call microsoft and make up a story about losing your cd key and they will give you a new one. Hope that helps :)

We both have XP Home edition but my computer is a Compaq and his CD is for a Gateway. and what's an OEM version? thanx

An OEM version of Windows XP is a brown box version of XP which Microsoft has licensed to hardware sellers so that they can sell it for reduced prices. The cd keys on them are different than retail versions you buy in stores, and OEM versions of windows are what you generally find installed on prebuilt systems like compaqs and gateways. So it sounds like your key will most likely work when installing from his cd. The only problem I can see with that is you might have a headache with activation, but I think Microsoft uses the hardware id key and the name you registered under to identify your key to you, so it wouldnt matter what cd you actually installed from. In fact, you are free to make a copy of your windows cd or install from your hard drive if you want, its your cd key and hardware configuration that are important. Just make sure when you activate your windows that you use the same name and cd key you used originally, and that your computer has not had many major upgrades.