Dumb question on CD key and i can't find the info

[Ratatapa]

Ok 10000% ashamed of this question but i gotta ask i can't find the right info -.-

Ok i know that if you get a Vista Pro CD key it works on Pro 32 or 64 bits and french or english version.

But my 2 questions (fuck me)

1) Does it also work on XP Aka does the key works for any language till the version is OK

My 2nd question i need to know for XP/vista/7

2) If exemple my Key is Service pack 2 (xp) and i reformat with a Service pack 3 CD (xp) (will my key still work?) I remember somewhere long ago i had a problem that my CD key wasn't compatible and i though it was a service pack problem.

Anyway sorry again but i had to ask

[Mafai]

Ok 10000% ashamed of this question but i gotta ask i can't find the right info -.-

Ok i know that if you get a Vista Pro CD key it works on Pro 32 or 64 bits and french or english version.

But my 2 questions (fuck me)

1) Does it also work on XP Aka does the key works for any language till the version is OK

My 2nd question i need to know for XP/vista/7

2) If exemple my Key is Service pack 2 (xp) and i reformat with a Service pack 3 CD (xp) (will my key still work?) I remember somewhere long ago i had a problem that my CD key wasn't compatible and i though it was a service pack problem.

Anyway sorry again but i had to ask

1.) The process is to install XP then call Microsoft to perform the downgrade on the key. If you provide them with a vista key, they will provide you with an activation ID (not a new key) for XP. This is done using the phone activation method in XP.

2.) Keys are version specific. Home, Professional, Ultimate, Media Center edition all have their own keys. If i take my XP cd (with no service packs) and slipstream the service packs in then reburn, my key still works fine.

[Ratatapa]

I think you misunderstood my first question ( or i misunderstood the answer)

It was for XP

Aka i buy Windows XP sp3 French. But finally i wanna install in English with the same key

[SephYuyX]

XPs key scheme is quite different compared to Vista and 7, theres nearly a different key for every type of version. Id venture to say it isnt possible to use keys from different regions.

However. How To Change Windows Xp Language ? - Open Discussion It appears if you change the registry to the langauge you want, and then install SP3, itll change the whole system.

So for example if youre using an English XP, and you want to swap to French. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nl s\LanguageRegistry key, and then change the value date for “Default” and“InstallLanguage” registry value from 0409 to 0C0C and then install the French Canadian (or just French, I guess) SP3.

You can install SP3 again, even if it's already installed, but I believe you have to have to have atleast SP1 installed before you can instal SP3 (can skip SP2 if I remember correctly.


And im also going to venture and say no, you cannot use a Windows XP SP2 CD key, to install a Windows XP SP3 CD. This may be different at the retail level, but it holds true for MSDN and VL CDs. However you can install the SP2, and then freely upgrade to SP3.