Is it possible to install XP-SP2 this way?

[BGC]

Hi,
I'm building a new computer and am going to give the current one to my
parents. When I do I will wipe the disk and reinstall XP. I bought a new
copy of XP w/SP2 for the new system and I want to know if I can install from
the new XPSP2 disc to both machines, using my original CD key for the old
system and the new CD key for the new system? It would save me alot of
downloading if I could do it like that instead of having to upgrade the
original system to SP2 again.

Also, I recall reading once that after you have installed and activated XP,
you could save some file and then copy it back to one of the system folders
if you ever had to reinstall XP, thus avoiding have to activate the
reinstallation. How do you do that?

Thanks,
BGC

[Will Denny]

Hi

It would be better if you created a slipstreamed SP2 CD for the original PC:

You can download the SP2 file (266 MBs) from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en -
or if you have a copy of the SP2 CD, you can copy the xpsp2.exe file from
that CD onto your hard disk/partition and use that:

then follow the directions in the following article to create a slipstreamed
XP CD:

http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49

Re-activation only takes a few seconds. The file referred to won't always
save having to re-activate.

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


"BGC" > wrote in message
news:hSsAd.11582$c%.2719@okepread05...
> Hi,
> I'm building a new computer and am going to give the current one to my
> parents. When I do I will wipe the disk and reinstall XP. I bought a new
> copy of XP w/SP2 for the new system and I want to know if I can install
> from the new XPSP2 disc to both machines, using my original CD key for the
> old system and the new CD key for the new system? It would save me alot
> of downloading if I could do it like that instead of having to upgrade the
> original system to SP2 again.
>
> Also, I recall reading once that after you have installed and activated
> XP, you could save some file and then copy it back to one of the system
> folders if you ever had to reinstall XP, thus avoiding have to activate
> the reinstallation. How do you do that?
>
> Thanks,
> BGC
>