jazzisjazz

Forgive me for what may be a stupid question, but does that mean I don't need to do anything else except return the system to my friend? And if you don't mind my asking, Cluberti, where did you find your avatar graphic?

I am fixing a system for a friend. I searched the forums and most of the related information also deals with slip-streaming or creating custom install cds. I am hoping that the answer to my question is simpler. The machine the friend brought to me was a Dell Dimension 8400 with an original XP Home coa sticker attached. It was however loaded with XP PRO the last time I saw it running. ( It probably wasn't legal and there was no reinstall cd for it - he bought it second hand. ) The hard drive in it crashed fatally. I bought a Dell XP Home Edition Re-installation Disc to match the coa on the side of his case ( It is for Home Edition ) thinking that he would just need to update the coa in the OS install at some point to match his. I thought that would make his XP Home install legit and would allow him to get updates and restore his pc if it was ever needed again. I have installed all XP updates and at no point have I been asked for a coa key. The machine is already activated as far as I know from installing MS Security Essentials and previous updates. It was a requirement for SP3 I think. After all the updates were done, the coa code I found using Belarc Advisor doesn't match the one on the side of his case. Should it? If so do I need to use the Microsoft site to change the key information or some other tool? Any help appreciated.