Sorting out XP master discs

[ahhaa]

2 computers built at the same time, but quite some time ago...

both had their own, but visually identical, copies of XP Home installed & the stickers placed on the chassis- each kept with its own machine, no other way to tell these discs apart by eyeball

now somebody 'tidying up' put all the software in one box (expletive deleted)

what's the best way to identify which disc goes with which system?

is this the same thing as a lost product key situation?

is there any way to screw up the situation even worse while trying to figure this out?

[Soopafresh]

http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/Magical_Jelly_Bean_Keyfinder/keyfinder.html

[Bjs]

This will depend on what is shown on the cds face , and what the key's report to belonging too .

That tool will only indicate which key belongs to the already installed os ... which would be pointless to discover which cd belong's to which pc .

If both report xp home - oem , or retail on the key on the case , then there is no difference between the disc's .

If one report's + sp2 , then go into control panel , and check what system has to say ... you may even need to visit add/remove , to check if one has had sp2 installed as an update ... the one that included sp2 will not list it ... you know who is who from this .

If one report's retail , and the other oem ... there is a text file on the cd's with this info included inside , once located , you will know who is who .

The difference between the cd's in respect too this issue would show up this way as explained by ms :

Retail version offers the option to do a "Quick Install" or a "Clean Install." OEM version offers the "Clean Install" option only. However, performing a "Clean Install" is HIGHLY recommended .

A test with a spare hard drive would be the way to check this ... although you can try and see , and back out of the install once this info is shown , so as not too affect the already installed os on the system .

But then again ... were talking ms here ... and I dont trust them as far as I can throw a brick .

[jimmalenko]

what's the best way to identify which disc goes with which system?

It actually shouldn't matter if both licences are the same (retail or OEM). I'll bet dollars to donuts that either serial number will work with either disc if this is the case.

[ahhaa]

thanks guys-
both discs are copper colored holographic XP Home Version 2002 includes SP1; both are OEM (Dist only w/ new PC). Both machines have been updated to sp2 but at different times.

I guess what I need is if there is a file on the CD that has a key # that matches either of the tags on these machines then I got it...
but I'm worried that inserting the 'wrong' disc might set off one of M$'s Inspector Gadgets... these have 'passed' inspection before so there's no prob in that area.

[jimmalenko]

I think you'll find that there is actually a "pool" of valid serial numbers that will work for each disc. My understanding is that there is an algorithm that runs on the key you supply - so long as both discs use the same algorithm (which they will if both versions are exactly the same type) then bingo! - either serial should work.

[Nelson37]

As long as both disks are the same version and service pack there is absolutely no difference between the disks and no legal issues whatsoever as long as you input a valid code number.

[ViRaL1]

Some CDs are vendor specific in that they won't properly activate online with the wrong combination of CD and Product Key. For example, I've run into a lot of DELLs that when reinstalled with a standard XP OEM CD will tell me the key is invalid and that I need to call to activate or put in a different Product Key. This is using an XP Home OEM CD on a system with a DELL XP Home COA for example. That's not to say that there should be any legal complications with installing activating, just that it's a pain in the butt to have to call / wait / understand an accent sometimes. If they're both 'beige box' systems you probably won't run into any issues so long as the versions match Home for Home, Pro for Pro, OEM for OEM, Retail for Retail.