[Janis]

I have been reading other questions as someone come close to my problem, no keyboard function, no USB if I let the system boot into windows XP. I can not boot into safe mode either as that just brings up a garbled screen. I am considering doing the repair install covered in detail but still have a question on that. Will Windows accept and use a registration key from a non original cd? I don't want to lose the programs . My system is totally functional if I use ubuntu if that info helps. I know I just can't copy the drives as that wouldn't do a thing to pick up the registry the programs are embedded in.

[Advertisements]

You can use any Microsoft Windows installation CD to perform a repair install provided that the CD you use contains the same version of Windows & incorporates the same Service Pack (if any) as the version you want to repair.

If you are prompted to enter a "Product Key" (it's not a "registration key" as you referred to it) you must enter the same Product Key as the one that belongs to the version you're trying to repair. If Windows was pre-installed on the PC when it was bought, the correct Product Key for it will be printed on a sticker on the back panel or, if it's a laptop, on the underside of it.

[phillipcorcoran]

You can use any Microsoft Windows installation CD to perform a repair install provided that the CD you use contains the same version of Windows & incorporates the same Service Pack (if any) as the version you want to repair.

If you are prompted to enter a "Product Key" (it's not a "registration key" as you referred to it) you must enter the same Product Key as the one that belongs to the version you're trying to repair. If Windows was pre-installed on the PC when it was bought, the correct Product Key for it will be printed on a sticker on the back panel or, if it's a laptop, on the underside of it.