Need Information about XP new install

[Thuban]

Greetings all,

I am running Win98se. In 2001 I bought one copy of Win XP Pro and one copy of Win XP Home for the two comps I was building at the time. I never installed them and they are still new in their boxes.

I live in the sticks...pots line...dial up...s l o w connection speed. The copys of my XPs do not even have Sp1! So, I jump thru the loops and wickets paying M$ to mail me a copy of Sp2. They got my postage and I got a message that they were unable to mail the SP at this time. Great. Its been 5 months now.

My local M&P phone company just started offering DSL! But I need XP on my comps to take advantage of using Linksys wireless N router and cards. ( I have a comp in a little shack that is 100 feet from my main flop so I need to go wireless.)

I loose my warm fuzzy feeling just thinking I have to wipe my comps and install XP...then all the issues I read about regarding installation of a Sp... Woof.

But...If I gotta. I read somewhere that, not all but most, WinXP cds are the same, that is to say not Key specific to any installation cd. If true I could load WinXP from a newer XP install CD that includes Sp2 and use the key from my copy of XP pro and it should work?

I do have a copy of XP Pro Sp2 OEM but I wouldn't think that would work to install my retail Pro version?

If I get my paws on a copy of the XP Sp2, would it work to upgrade both the XP Pro and home versions once I get them on the comps?

Sorry about the long post.

Thanks,

Thu

[Alan2273]

Yes SP2 will update Pro & Home.

Provided the install CD is the same version your other key will work with that CD.