hard disk gone - and with it pre-installed xp!

[EmmaLB85]

Hey all!

My laptop's hard disk has died on me. And with it the preinstalled version of xp that was on it and the back up partitition to reinstall xp. I know in the US i could just ask microsoft for another reboot disk or something, but it didn't come with a reboot disk, it had this partition instead. Apparently that's the way it is in Europe and if your hard disk goes you lose xp. http://images.thetechguide.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':blink:\' />
Well, I have an xp disk, but I've used that on another computer.

Can I use my xp disk to reload windows on my laptop using the serial number for my laptop's original xp? I don't want to have any trouble when it comes to activation. I heared that microsoft take data about different parts of your pc that identify your pc uniquely when you activate it. Since my laptop had a legal version of xp on it and was activated, would i be able to reinstall and then activate it with another xp disk? I'm hoping microsoft would realise that my laptop had xp on it before, quite legally, and just go through with the activation even though the disk I'd be using is tied down to another machine that I own. http://images.thetechguide.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':unsure:\' />

Any ideas on what i can do?
Thanks in advance, Emma

[Small Shoe Magoo]

On most laptops w/ pre installed OS, there should be a tag or a sticker with your XP activation code. Try using that, or if it HAS been used too many times, call up microsoft during the activation process and activate by phone. Say, your system died, and give them the activation ID, they will supply you with another one.