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ForumsFor the not-so-techie readers, not all Windows XP CDs and Licenses are the same. There are many different types of Windows XP CDs available:
- OEM - Which are usually sold with the computer
- Retail - Brought stand alone in stores like BestBuy, CompUSA etc..
- Upgrade - To upgrade from a previous operating system
- Branded - Specifically branded copies from large computer manufacturers like Dell
- Action pack - Was part of the Microsoft Action Pack
- Volume License - Typically used in large businesses, government and educational institutions
The problem with different versions is the license key from one version typically wont work on another version. If you have a retail license key, it wont work on an OEM disk.
To make things worse, lots of people lose their Windows XP CD. However, they usually have their license key attached to the side of their computers. So how does a computer technician know which XP CD they should use for their clients license key?
JohnR from Technibbles forums has posted an excellent tip about how to visually determine the difference between Windows XP CDs.
How to determine what type of Windows XP CD you have:
The way to tell if any given disk is OEM or not is to look carefully at the words in the hologram. If it says “Only for distribution with a new PC” on the front of the disk, it’s an OEM copy. If it doesn’t say that, it’s Retail.
If it says “Upgrade”, It’s Retail. To use an upgrade disk you’ll need a valid disk from a lower version like 2000 or ME to put in when the installer prompts you for one.
If it is a branded CD (such as Dell or HP), its OEM.
How to determine what type of Windows XP License Key you have:
To tell if the user’s license key is OEM or not, look for the license sticker. If it’s on the case of the machine, it’s 99% likely to be OEM. If it says the name of any computer company on it, it’s OEM. If it says OEM, it’s OEM.
If there’s no license sticker on the computer case, it’s probably a retail copy. If they’ve got a brightly-coloured 8.5×11 paper folder with a CD holder and a license key on the folder itself, its a retail copy.
There’s no easy way to tell if a user’s key is from an Action Pack subscription or a volume license deal, both of which require different CDs from the OEM and the retail ones, but the good news is that if they’ve got those, they almost certainly know it, because those are not the kind of thing you find on a home user’s personal PC.
It’s worth noting that the “Branded” installs are just OEMs that have a custom installer on their installer disk. You can use an OEM disk to reinstall using a key from a “Branded” copy. You don’t need the branded disk to do it. You will, however, almost certainly need to find drivers for hardware that the Branded copy would have installed for you.
There’s a reason why I keep a stack of burned Windows CDs in my toolkit. That way, I’ve always got the one I need for the license on the current machine.
Great article, I was just searching some info on license keys and this article answered lotsa questions!
Thanks JohnR, updated the article. Thanks for sharing your knowlege with Technibble readers.
So i’m guessing that an OEM copy of Windows is for use on that machine only, while a retail copy can be reactivated on any PC? Is there no way to use your OEM Windows on another PC?
So i’m guessing that an OEM copy of Windows is for use on that machine only, while a retail copy can be reactivated on any PC? Is there no way to use your OEM Windows on another PC?
That’s right. The OEM license only allows the copy to be activated and used on the one, single, specific set of hardware it was sold for. It can be reinstalled and reactivated as often as you like, but only on that machine. There is no legal way to move an OEM license to a different machine than the one for which it was sold.
A retail license can be moved from machine to machine, as long as it’s only ever on one machine at a time.
Hi There
By looking at the file setupp.ini in the I386 directory of your Windows XP CD you can tell what kind of license key you have. An OEM version has the text “OEM” include in line that says “Pid=XXXXXOEM” and a retail version has just numbers.
My question is how can one tell by looking at the contents of the CD whether it is a an Upgrade or Volume License CD?
This could come in useful if someone has lost their CD and needs to use another CD (be it a friend’s or a copied CD or whatever CD for that matter) with their original licence product key.
Great Info!
Hi I have an oem pc that needs a new install of xp home. I also have a retail version of xp home that i use on another computer. Can I use my retail disk with the oem license to bring my oem pc back to life?
Nope. I just found this out by experience. You MUST have an OEM disk of some variety in order to use the OEM key on the side of your PC. Doesn’t have to be the OEM disk that came with your PC, though–so if you have a friend with an OEM disk it might work for your PC with your OEM product key.
Oh, and one added point. Even if Windows XP Installer accepts the product key you type in before installation commences it doesn’t mean you’re golden. After installation is done you still have to activate Windows. Then (and only then) will some product keys be recognized as invalid. So it’s possible (as I discovered) to waste a whole bunch of time doing an upgrade only to discover you have to back the upgrade out and redo it with the proper retail version disk for your retail product key(or an OEM version with your OEM product key).
Maybe a bit of an obvious point, but make sure that the CD is also the same Edition (Professional Edition or Home Edition) as the one you have a key for.
Thanks for all your help guys
One small corrention. I have installed a Dell Dimension Windows XP Pro Disc on an older Compaq laptop just to see if the laptop still ran. It did and now we know that not all OEM discs are worthless to other computers.
Hi there,
You would be of great help to me if you’d answer a question:
If a computer has a Windows XP installed on it which is licensed as part of a Volume License, is there needed some special kind of CD in order to perform a clean install or will it work with a regular OEM one? The computer I’m talkig about has a little sticker on the case with a product key, so perhaps the initial instalation was performed with an OEM CD.
I was curious if Microsoft or another company had a web page, that will let you find out what VERSION of Windows XP your product key is for…
For example.. I have a few LEGITAMITE keys wrote down, from computers that have been trashed with retail software still intact, but I have forgotten if the Key was for Media Center, Professional, Home, Etc.
Is there any program or web address I can type the key in (without a hacker stealing it), to find out which version I have.. (instead of trying to run installs to find a match)
Thanks,
Josh
Damn good question Josh. I’ll chase that up.
Hey Teo - I believe the rules described above that apply to the OEM and Retail version, also apply to the Volume disks. So if you have a Retail key, it will only work with a Retail CD, and will not work with Volume or OEM media. If you have a Volume key, it will only work with a Volume CD, and no other media. Same thing in any combination.
Josh! I love that question! My hunch is that even Microsoft doesn’t know how to tell if a key is OEM or Retail! I base this on the fact that if you load one successfully but are prompted to call Microsoft for Activation, they don’t seem to know. They ask test questions. If you answer correctly, you get Activated. If not, you don’t. Seems to me, if they could know, they would.
I recently bought a computer from a used computer store and it came with the Windows XP key, but every version of Windows I tried to install tells me that the key is invalid.
All it says on my key is
Microsoft Windows Xp Professional
HP
Can someone please tell me which windows to install?
I tried OEM, Retail, Corp…
Hi Bob,
Certain Manufacturers have ‘make’ specific installation CD’s that only their key will work in tandem with, the one’s I know of are:-
*Fujitsu Siemens
*HP
*Dell
You will need to get a XP Home installation CD specifically for your make (HP) either from the manufacturer or elsewhere.
Is xp 9in1 legal?
Any luck on that website you were chasing Bryce?
Are keys language-specifik or could I use my swedish key on an eng. xp?
I need to tell which version my keys are, i have a few from old computers and cant find a disc to install it.
The only thing i can think of is to in stall with a valid key and then change the key once in windows.
any luck finding a decryption tool ?
Hi Bryce
I want to ask , if its possible to download a OEM CD from the internet? I have a Original Key but unfrotunately NO CD. I cant use that key with Retail version also.
Please suggest something. (can u please email me at the above email address, cos I dont see any subscribe button here, to get updates and the chances are that I might not find this great blog again)
Thanks
Josh, Bryce and Ant,
When I saw the initial request for a way to determine the type of key one has, I KNEW I had recently seen a breakdown on how to tell what type of install disk you’re holding or modifying/creating (the flip side of this query). It took about an hour to relocate it, but this is some rather useful info.
http://www.thetechguide.com/howto/setuppini.html
I also recall coming across a page describing the differences in the serial numbers themselves, but relocating that page has eluded my search efforts so far. I will continue the chase as time permits, but no promises on an eventual ‘payoff’.
In retrospect, I sure wish I had taken the time to write down the information.
On a side note, I stumbled across this site two days ago and have yet to close my browser. Bryce, you’re doing the rest of us a tremendous service here and you deserve a ton of Respect for your efforts. I own/operate a free email tech support group hosted by FreeLists.org called PCTechTalk that’s been in operating since mid 1998, I teach a basic computer maintenance class at EclecticAcademy.com and I’ve been at this stuff since 1983 (remember punch cards? I still have nightmares lol). I feel I’ve learned more in the past two days from reading about various member’s experiences that I ever have from any coursework.
Thanks folks and keep up the good work.
I need help!
On the stickers posted above where it shows OEM, my sticker just shows Alienware instead.
Since it was designed for alienware doesn’t that make it an OEM? Is there another way to find out?
John