ok, I am needing to reinstall windows on a new hard drive I got but I never got a boot disc with this computer/windows xp I got but I have the serial key. I do have a older version of Windows XP version 1.1 boot disc that I got with my last computer that I got rid of and dont have the serial key to no more (the HD that it was installed on has been erased/formated). Now can I use the serial key from my current windows XP with that older version? And/or can I use my serial key with a downloaded version of Windows XP?
If it doesn't work and you have the original key on a foiled label, then normally MS will give you a new code for the disk you are using if you phone them up. When you have genuine parts they tend to help out as much as possible.