replacement for windows xp sp1

[mrclean]

hello and thank you ahead of time;

I have a client who has a 4-5 year old gateway pentinum computer. it looks like she needed to reformat and reload the operating system. Someone gave her a "DELL" m/s xp sp2 cd and She got as far as 75% of reloading xp and then got a blue page error telling her to check her BIOS and drivers as well as any conflicting application prior to restarting the reload again.
She seems to have lost the original GATEWAY windows XP sp1 disk that came with the PC.
1.) Can I use xp (sp2 or sp1) from another computer manufacturer to perform the reload?
2.) where can I purchase a copy of the appropriate windows XP operating system that is not already assigned to a PC brand name, on line? Just the cd (OEM, perhaps if that's ok)?
Thank you Don Rago

 

[V-2Mima]

Answers

Hello Don,
O.K Complete and acurate answers to your 2 questions.
1) No, hahaha it won't work the product key for an OEM cd will not work in another. If it happens to go in on an install it will Not work on Activation... besides its a violation of the EULA (End User License Agreement).
2) Your best bet is to Call Gateway and see if they have any. DO NOT call Microsoft they dont have OEM replacement CD's. If Gateway says to call Microsoft tell them that they're full of it hahaha, like I said before, Microsoft doesnt carry replacement OEM cd's, thats Gateways responsibility.
I know this for a fact because 1- I'm in the computer tech business myself, 2 - I work for Microsoft