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Here is a problem that I run into alot when working a peoples computer who have Windows XP Pro. I decide that the problem requires a reinstall or a repair install of Windows XP Pro to fix their problem. I extract their cd key from Windows and then start the installation process. When I get to the part where I enter the CD key it doesn't work. The reason it doesn't work is because either I used a Pro CD and they have a corporate CD key or vise-versa. So here is some info that might help if you run into this problem or to help you not run into this problem.
How to tell from Windows:
Right click on My Computer and select properties. Look in the section that says "Registered to". If the licence number starts with 55274 then it was a corporate install.
Right click on My Computer and select properties. Look in the section that says "Registered to". You should see a licence number like this: XXXXXX-???-XXXXXX-XXXXX. If you have Windows XP Pro Corporate the first ? will be a 6. For OEM versions the ??? will state OEM. For Windows XP Home Corporate the ?? will have an 11.
How to tell from CD:
Have a look on the CD, in the "\i386\setupp.ini" file Look at the last three characters on the line that starts with "pid=" some of the values are: (I don't know them all) OEM = OEM version, 000 = retail version, 270 = volume license. I don't know if changing these values changes the way the CD performs in WinXP / Win2k3 (it definitely did in Win2k).
How to tell if Windows won't boot: If you find that windows won't boot, but you need to find out which CD to use, here is what you do. Find a way to view the registry of the damaged Windows (I use bartPE). Then in the registry go here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
You should see a string named "ProductId". Take the value of that string and analyze it using the methods listed above "How to tell from Windows"
If you have a damaged Windows install and don't know if it is Windows XP Home or Windows XP Pro. Then browse to "C:\Windows\System32" and open up a file called "eula.txt". At the bottom you should see a code like this: "EULAID:WX.4_PRO_RTL_EN". From the code you should be able to tell if it is Home or Pro.
How to Tell XP Pro from XP Corporate
Last Updated: 2/14/10Here is a problem that I run into alot when working a peoples computer who have Windows XP Pro. I decide that the problem requires a reinstall or a repair install of Windows XP Pro to fix their problem. I extract their cd key from Windows and then start the installation process. When I get to the part where I enter the CD key it doesn't work. The reason it doesn't work is because either I used a Pro CD and they have a corporate CD key or vise-versa. So here is some info that might help if you run into this problem or to help you not run into this problem.
How to tell from Windows:
Right click on My Computer and select properties. Look in the section that says "Registered to". If the licence number starts with 55274 then it was a corporate install.
Right click on My Computer and select properties. Look in the section that says "Registered to". You should see a licence number like this: XXXXXX-???-XXXXXX-XXXXX. If you have Windows XP Pro Corporate the first ? will be a 6. For OEM versions the ??? will state OEM. For Windows XP Home Corporate the ?? will have an 11.
How to tell from CD:
Have a look on the CD, in the "\i386\setupp.ini" file Look at the last three characters on the line that starts with "pid=" some of the values are: (I don't know them all) OEM = OEM version, 000 = retail version, 270 = volume license. I don't know if changing these values changes the way the CD performs in WinXP / Win2k3 (it definitely did in Win2k).
How to tell if Windows won't boot: If you find that windows won't boot, but you need to find out which CD to use, here is what you do. Find a way to view the registry of the damaged Windows (I use bartPE). Then in the registry go here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
You should see a string named "ProductId". Take the value of that string and analyze it using the methods listed above "How to tell from Windows"
If you have a damaged Windows install and don't know if it is Windows XP Home or Windows XP Pro. Then browse to "C:\Windows\System32" and open up a file called "eula.txt". At the bottom you should see a code like this: "EULAID:WX.4_PRO_RTL_EN". From the code you should be able to tell if it is Home or Pro.
Keywords: windows xp corporate registration proFromCorporate