Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)
JGreen wrote:
> I'm trying to get some clarification, from all the posts I have been
> reading on this common problem.
>
> I get the missing system file error. I DO NOT have a disc, because it
> was bought with it already installed a few years ago. I can't boot
> into safe mode nor do last good configuration.
>
> Is my understanding correct that as a worst case scenario I would
> have to buy a New CD of XP & do a clean install? If so do I have to
> format the hard drive or will the install do that?
>
> Also can I do a repair from a borrowed copy of XP or is that where the
> product key get's involved?
>
> Thanks
> james
>
You can use a OEM XP version, preferably the generic OEM version using your
key.
If you clean install the partitioning and format are done during the setup.
All this is covered in the links below.
You boot from the CD and do a clean install.
Click on or copy and paste the link below into your web browser address bar.
How to clean install XP.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
xpnews@bogusmichaelstevenstech.com
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
> "Ken Blake" wrote:
>
>> In news:OE3Yf0w4EHA.2600@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl,
>> ggull <ggullSPAM@NOTrcn.com> typed:
>>
>>> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote ...
>>>> ggull <ggullSPAM@NOTrcn.com> typed:
>>>>
>>>>> I have a stupid question. Is the product key written on the
>>>>> CD
>>>>> itself, or are all the CDs the same and the key is just a
>>>>> unique
>>>>> alphanumeric string used for activation/control/etc?
>>>>
>>>> The product key is not on the CD. If they were, each CD would
>>>> have to be made individually, and the cost would be *much*
>>>> higher.
>>>
>>> Thanks for confirming what I suspected, based on that very
>>> consideration. (I assume the key is somehow
>>> encrypted/hashed/whatever
>>> so that just any random string won't work 🙂>
>>
>>
>> You're welcome. There's clearly some sort of algorithm applied to
>> the string, and only keys that work with that algorithm will be
>> accepted.
>>
>>
>>>
>>> To get back to the post from Michael Solomon I responded to,
>>> where he
>>> says "William, you cannot borrow someone else's CD for this
>>> purpose
>>> as the repair install requires the input of the CD key. Doing
>>> so
>>> would either result in a rejection or causing problems for the
>>> original owner if and when he tries to activate his setup again
>>> if
>>> necessary."
>>>
>>> then it seems that perhaps one *could* borrow another CD, but
>>> use
>>> one's own legitimate product key to activate the install.
>>
>>
>> As long as it's the same type (Retail vs OEM and Full vs
>> Upgrade), yes you could. I made this point in an earlier message
>> a day or two ago, but I don't recall whether it was in this
>> thread or not. The point is that you have to use your own product
>> key; the CD itself doesn't matter. To put it another way, it's
>> really the Product Key you buy; the CD itself is worth only
>> pennies.
>>
>>
>>> Or is the
>>> algorithm smart enough to know I have (say) an OEM key that
>>> should
>>> not work with a Retail Full CD
>>
>>
>> Yes it is. As I said, the type of CD (Retail vs OEM and Full vs
>> Upgrade) has to match the key you use.
>>
>>
>>> (the case this thread has been
>>> considering)? At least if the key does not reside in the
>>> installed
>>> software, it seems I wouldn't cause problems for the original
>>> owner
>>> if I only use my own key.
>>
>>
>> Correct.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
>> Please reply to the newsgroup
>>
>>
>>
>>>> All CDs are not quite the same, but all Retail Full versions
>>>> are
>>>> the same, all Upgrade versions the same, and all generic OEM
>>>> versions the same.
JGreen wrote:
> I'm trying to get some clarification, from all the posts I have been
> reading on this common problem.
>
> I get the missing system file error. I DO NOT have a disc, because it
> was bought with it already installed a few years ago. I can't boot
> into safe mode nor do last good configuration.
>
> Is my understanding correct that as a worst case scenario I would
> have to buy a New CD of XP & do a clean install? If so do I have to
> format the hard drive or will the install do that?
>
> Also can I do a repair from a borrowed copy of XP or is that where the
> product key get's involved?
>
> Thanks
> james
>
You can use a OEM XP version, preferably the generic OEM version using your
key.
If you clean install the partitioning and format are done during the setup.
All this is covered in the links below.
You boot from the CD and do a clean install.
Click on or copy and paste the link below into your web browser address bar.
How to clean install XP.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
xpnews@bogusmichaelstevenstech.com
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
> "Ken Blake" wrote:
>
>> In news:OE3Yf0w4EHA.2600@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl,
>> ggull <ggullSPAM@NOTrcn.com> typed:
>>
>>> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote ...
>>>> ggull <ggullSPAM@NOTrcn.com> typed:
>>>>
>>>>> I have a stupid question. Is the product key written on the
>>>>> CD
>>>>> itself, or are all the CDs the same and the key is just a
>>>>> unique
>>>>> alphanumeric string used for activation/control/etc?
>>>>
>>>> The product key is not on the CD. If they were, each CD would
>>>> have to be made individually, and the cost would be *much*
>>>> higher.
>>>
>>> Thanks for confirming what I suspected, based on that very
>>> consideration. (I assume the key is somehow
>>> encrypted/hashed/whatever
>>> so that just any random string won't work 🙂>
>>
>>
>> You're welcome. There's clearly some sort of algorithm applied to
>> the string, and only keys that work with that algorithm will be
>> accepted.
>>
>>
>>>
>>> To get back to the post from Michael Solomon I responded to,
>>> where he
>>> says "William, you cannot borrow someone else's CD for this
>>> purpose
>>> as the repair install requires the input of the CD key. Doing
>>> so
>>> would either result in a rejection or causing problems for the
>>> original owner if and when he tries to activate his setup again
>>> if
>>> necessary."
>>>
>>> then it seems that perhaps one *could* borrow another CD, but
>>> use
>>> one's own legitimate product key to activate the install.
>>
>>
>> As long as it's the same type (Retail vs OEM and Full vs
>> Upgrade), yes you could. I made this point in an earlier message
>> a day or two ago, but I don't recall whether it was in this
>> thread or not. The point is that you have to use your own product
>> key; the CD itself doesn't matter. To put it another way, it's
>> really the Product Key you buy; the CD itself is worth only
>> pennies.
>>
>>
>>> Or is the
>>> algorithm smart enough to know I have (say) an OEM key that
>>> should
>>> not work with a Retail Full CD
>>
>>
>> Yes it is. As I said, the type of CD (Retail vs OEM and Full vs
>> Upgrade) has to match the key you use.
>>
>>
>>> (the case this thread has been
>>> considering)? At least if the key does not reside in the
>>> installed
>>> software, it seems I wouldn't cause problems for the original
>>> owner
>>> if I only use my own key.
>>
>>
>> Correct.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
>> Please reply to the newsgroup
>>
>>
>>
>>>> All CDs are not quite the same, but all Retail Full versions
>>>> are
>>>> the same, all Upgrade versions the same, and all generic OEM
>>>> versions the same.
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