2 Laptops with XP codes

I got 2 laptops from work (they were dumping HW for new stuff, it's on the level) and they have XP product code stickers. I understand that those codes are OEM and I need the correct manufacturer, likely specific to the model recovery CDs. I don't want to pay $45+shipping (called Lenovo) to get the Lenovo restore disks. I'm hoping to find either the iso's, or a hack to enter the product code on the stickers, as I have a valid XP Pro Retail.

I work in IT and I checked with the laptop deployment guys, they don't get those CDs because they have an image they use.

Anyone help?

 

What you are suggesting is illegal, go away.
Download an illegal corporate copy like the rest of us lol.

 

You can try it on an empty system and try to enter the legitimate codes to see if it will work, if not you will probably have to get the CD's from Lenovo unfortunately.

 

You may want to try this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874

Though this is for volume licenses, I do not think that it should matter. As with any attempt to edit the registry, there is a risk of creating serious problems. No guarantees or warranties whatsoever come with this advice! Good luck.

 

Since oem's usually don't individually install xp on each laptop they just image a preinstalled os. That O/S is probably an oem license and it doesn't correspond to the key on the bottom.
There's usually three different kind of keys:
Retail
Bought xp separate from laptop(usually) will only work with retail cd's. Usually can activate once or twice.
Volume
volume license allows one key to be installed multiple times and only works with one specific cd key. Activation through microsoft however many times.
Oem
oem installs and slaps it on there but may not actually use the key. Probably just use something similar to volume license.

If you can figure out if those keys are one of those 3 kinds of keys then you just need to get a cd for that and install it with it. If those laptops are few years old then you can probably reactivate windows since Microsoft technically allows unlimited activations but just a few every 6 months i believe.
What my friend did on his t60p is that we "obtained" a "Dell OEM win xp sp2 pro cd" from "somewhere" that allows you to install without prompting for a cdkey (theres actually ways to do this with any kind of cd but thats beyond the scope of this post) and you don't even have to activate, but if you want to have a validated windows you could download the windows validation tool and then you can use the cdkey on the bottom of the laptop for the prompt and i think any key works in this case and it'll validate(if it's authentic) At this point you'll be using a legal copy of windows and it'll be working correctly.

With Vmware you can easily test the keys to see what "type" they are just by doing multiple setup procedures and testing the key. I found that my Asus laptop actually has a retail cd key on the bottom and that allowed me to successfully install with a retail cd.