Installing Windows XP OEM

[Lee G. Veteran]

I think I'm going to backup and reinstall Windows XP on the machine that my family uses. The computer is an NEC Powermate which is running Windows XP Home Edition (NEC OEM :pinch:). Someone borked up the install, by installing useless rubbish and corrupting many programs somehow.

I remember about a year ago when reinstalled Windows on the machine for the first time that lots of bloat, including Adobe Acrobat 5, a Norton AV trial, some other useless programs which I can't remember the names of, NEC branding, and pointless NEC system diagnostic utilities were installed with the OEM. I really don't want this bloat and want a fresh XP install. The OEM didn't come on CD, instead all the install files are located on a separate hidden partition.

I have a Dell XP Home OEM disk which I want to use instead as it doesn't include the bloat. Would this be a visable option? and will the NEC OEM product key work with it? Also, the NEC OEM doesn't have a service pack, whereas the Dell CD has SP1 on it.

How can I install Windows (legally of course) without the bloat that comes with the OEM?

[Intersect]

il tell ya what. you have a Valid licence key for your system right? "borrow a friends copy of xp" it wont matter if it as any sp's on it

and reinstall your system that way.

[Lee G. Veteran]

Will the OEM key work though? :/

If this was my PC then I'd just use the Dell disk. But it's used by my family and I don't want to potentially install an illegitimate version of Windows XP on their computer.

[JRmpls]

no .. your OEM key will only work on OEM software and sadly not on a retail build of XP.

As to your question of will your NEC OEM key work on a DELL branded PC, it technically SHOULD work... but since I've only worked with VLK AND Retail, I'm not 100%. good luck :)

[Intersect]

iam not sure if your OEM key will work on a retail xp cd. try it and see what happens.

[Vermiis Mysteriis]

It won't.

[Jeremy1]

Your Dell OEM CD will only work with a Dell key, and you're only allowed to install it on a Dell computer.

[Lee G. Veteran]

Hmm... I might give it a try?

Any alternative ways? I don't want to use the recovery partition (as it's called) to reinstall Windows with all of the bloat. I don't think you can even remove the bloat through Add Remove Programs when you install the NEC OEM so that's another reason why I want to install a clean version but legally.

[mntbikeracer1]

http://www.4saad.com/WhatsNew/Fresh_XP_Install/

Other than the thinkpad parts this is excactly what you need to do. You can use nlite on the iso you create also.

[Vermiis Mysteriis]

If you go into the i386 directory on the NEC install files, look for the files OEMBIOS.*

There should be four of them. Also PIGDEN.DLL and SETUPP.INI.

Copy the contents of the Dell cd to your hard drive (lets say c:\xpcd), then copy those 6 files from your NEC disk into the i386 directory (c:\xpcd\i386), overwriting when neccessary. Burn those file to a bootable disk, and you should be able to use your old NEC key and it shouldn't require activation. If it doesn't work, come back and we'll see what we can figure out.

This is exactly how I converted an OEM XP Home install disk I "acquired" into a legit Sony OEM unattended install that uses my key.

Edited October 7, 2005 by Vermiis Mysteriis

[leesmithg]

Seems like user has a factory restore disk rather than and ordinary o.e.m. disk.

I have said this many times, phone the company that built the computer and ask them to supply you free of charge with and o.e.m. disk.

I purchased a machine for my fiance 5 years ago from Tiny it only came with a factory restore, so belled them they sent me an o.e.m. disk.

Other means is check ebay for a copy, you can buy them legally, with no licence key, you have the key which is your licence.

I sometimes read the request section of ebay and see requests by buyers and replies are people that supply them for a charge + P&P.

[Vermiis Mysteriis]

Most OEM disks like that will have the key already on the disk to begin with. It's locked to the OEMBIOS files. At least its that way with Dell and Sony disks that I've seen. Just look in the i386\WINNT.SIF file. I've bought 3 copies of Dell XP Pro off of eBay, two from the US, one from Scottland...all used the same key. Same with the two Dell XP Home disks...both had the same key on them, none required activation.

[n30w1n]

Okay, here are the facts about the install.

OEM keys will NOT work with the retail CD. The NEC OEM key WILL work with ANY OEM CD.

TECHNICALLY speaking, NEC would NOT frown on you installing a Dell OEM on your personal NEC machine. Dell WOULD frown on you using their OEM install on an NEC.

PRACTICALLY speaking, it doesn't matter. The only thing you need is the license key, that's what you pay for when you buy Windows. You have a legal one on the bottom of your NEC, use it with whichever OEM files you like.

By the way, if you install the Dell OEM it WILL come with all the Dell preloaded software, including redundant drivers, Dell logos and bookmarks, etc... If you don't care about that, go ahead and use it over the NEC original.

Bottom line: Use any OEM CD you want with the serial on the bottom of your NEC.

[Lee G. Veteran]

Seems like user has a factory restore disk rather than and ordinary o.e.m. disk.

I have said this many times, phone the company that built the computer and ask them to supply you free of charge with and o.e.m. disk.

....

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Yep. It's a recovery partition which "restores" Windows XP to default by automatically formatting C and reinstalling Windows with all the other bloat etc.

I've just been looking into the possibility of purchasing an XP disk from NEC - searching through their website. I'll probably phone up and inquire tomorrow. I'll do this if all else fails as I'll be away for roughly a week from Wednesday and to be honest, want to reinstall asap.

...

By the way, if you install the Dell OEM it WILL come with all the Dell preloaded software, including redundant drivers, Dell logos and bookmarks, etc... If you don't care about that, go ahead and use it over the NEC original.

Bottom line: Use any OEM CD you want with the serial on the bottom of your NEC.

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Thanks for the info (Y)

Does that mean an XP OEM CD key would work on an XP SP1 CD key?

And the only Dell thing that I've seen installed from my Dell OEM disk is a Manufacturer link on the start menu which can be hidden (or replaced with something else using Gameguy's (aka John's) start panel editor). You get other CDs with Dell that install all of the pointless Dell utilities and applications ;)

Edited October 7, 2005 by Sprocket

[ehlo]

Simply delete the OEM directory.

You may want to check first and remove everything but drivers.

Reburn the cd making sure the boot loader is correct