XP serial problem

[m6qrp]

I have a 100% genuine XP Pro SP 1Serial Number which came with my dell. I want to trasfer the os to my custom built pc but i lost the cd. So i borrowed a XP Pro SP1 from my friend and tried to install it but it says that i have entered an invalid serial at the setup. Why doesn't it work?

 

[diabloII]

because each CD has its own unique cd key

if you lost the CD, then you can say goodbye to your genuine cd key :[

there might be a way to change it, but if there is, i don't know about it

 

[Condraz23]

I never knew that.

I guess that would be another reason for me to not purchase Windows XP.

 

[Zanjo]

I heard that MS made some OEM product keys not work with activation over the internet, ones from large manufacturers(eg.dell). This was to stop pirates using a OEM serial key on other computers, as the serial key on the OEM computer wouldn't have been used to activate the computer, as it is pre activated.

 

[m6qrp]

So does that mean that the serial i have can no longer be used ?