How do I re-install windows without a disc, but with a key?

January 1, 2006 3:59 PM

So, I borked the Windows XP Pro partition on my laptop, which is an IBM (Well, Lenvo) Thinkpad G41. I have been off blissfully in Debian land for the past few months and haven't given it a second thought, but now I need Windows back in the next few days. I do not have an install disk, as one did not come with my laptop, and the "rescue" partition IBM provides is borked as well. I do however, have a legitimate key. What can I do?
posted by phrontist to computers & internet (19 comments total)

That is Lenovo.
posted by phrontist at 3:59 PM on January 1, 2006

Lenovo will send you a recovery CD if you've really wrecked the rescue partition. Do you have an Access IBM button? Have you pressed it at startup?
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 4:13 PM on January 1, 2006

I've heard that Lenovo will send such a disk, but I really need this within two or three days if possible.
posted by phrontist at 4:14 PM on January 1, 2006

How about just pirating Win98?
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 4:15 PM on January 1, 2006

I'm pretty sure you can just download an iso and use the valid key, unless of course you want to stay away from that, which I wouldn't blame you for.
posted by puke & cry at 4:20 PM on January 1, 2006

Puke & Cry: Is that the case? I downloaded a Pro ISO and it rejected my key. I was under the impression that each ISO is tied to a particular key.
posted by phrontist at 4:24 PM on January 1, 2006

mm, odd. I've heard of people getting valid keys from their friends and using them on other installs. One can also generate new keys using the right program.
posted by puke & cry at 4:37 PM on January 1, 2006

look for a corporate edition iso ... there should be a key provided with it ... best of all, you don't have to worry about the online registration thingie
posted by pyramid termite at 4:49 PM on January 1, 2006

Installing Windows after Linux will probably screw up/overwrite your Linux installation. If this is unacceptable, you should probably run Windows in an emulator like VMWare Player (it's free, but you need someone to create the Windows image for you that the Player will run).
posted by evariste at 5:02 PM on January 1, 2006

Ther are 2 main versions of your XP install: Standard and OEM (or corporate) install.

Standard is what you buy from the store. OEM is what comes pre-loaded on most computers.

You need to get ahold of an OEM edition of Windows.
posted by ilikebike at 5:50 PM on January 1, 2006

I always work with xp OEM, so maybe that's the situation?
posted by puke & cry at 6:06 PM on January 1, 2006

Actually there are three types of different keys that aren't interchangeable--OEM, Retail and Corporate/Volume License.
posted by Pryde at 8:35 PM on January 1, 2006

ilikebike writes "Ther are 2 main versions of your XP install: Standard and OEM (or corporate) install."

There is also volume licenced which has all the wide usability of the retail version and none of the hardware locking of OEM versions. Volume licensed versions also don't phone home like retail versions.
posted by Mitheral at 8:43 PM on January 1, 2006

Or ya, what Pryde said (dang slow spell checker).
posted by Mitheral at 8:44 PM on January 1, 2006

Searching about on various sites of ill repute I can't seem to find any torrents that refrence an OEM version... There seem to be "OEM Service Packs" (as seen in this truly massive torrent) but no install ISOs.

Help!
posted by phrontist at 12:17 AM on January 2, 2006

I am a epically collossal idiot. I just realized that OEM = Corporate. A thousand apologies. (It's 3AM)
posted by phrontist at 12:18 AM on January 2, 2006

Another note for those who may find this question. After installing XP over linux, you'll need to re-install your bootloader (GRUB). This can be done with Knoppix.
posted by phrontist at 12:22 AM on January 2, 2006

call em 'up. i got a whole pile of cds from them back when it was ibm just because i said "hey, i didn't get any cds!".
posted by andrew cooke at 6:49 AM on January 2, 2006

I called dell in a similar situation and had the disk the next morning. The first dell tech was unhelpful the second sent it right out.
posted by flummox at 8:57 AM on January 2, 2006