# Just making sure

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/just-making-sure/20819>\
**Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\
**Created:** [November 28, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/just-making-sure/20819 "2006-11-28T19:41:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tunerfreak](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tunerfreak/32/7427_2.png) [@Tunerfreak](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Tunerfreak)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/just-making-sure/20819/1 "2006-11-28T19:41:26Z")

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so i want to do a fresh install of windows on my GF’s computer but the computer never came with a recovery cd or anything like that so i told her that i would need a windows cd to do it. he dad knows this guy that he can get the windows cd for free but he said that he has to know what version. so i wanted to upgrade the computer from home to pro but the guy said that you cant just throw any windows version on the computer?!?! now it was my assumption that if you reformat a hard drive you can install anything you want on there but the guy insists that you cant you can only put on what the sticker on the side of the case says.

am i wrong or does this guy not know anything

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**Author:** ![RedrRocket](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redrrocket/32/7193_2.png) [@RedrRocket](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RedrRocket)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 6:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/just-making-sure/20819/2 "2006-11-29T06:33:00Z")

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yes im pretty sure you need to use the version home or pro for the key you have.

home keys only work on home XP  
pro keys only work on pro XP.

but i could be wrong.

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**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 6:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/just-making-sure/20819/3 "2006-11-29T06:41:19Z")

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If you have a key that you want to use, then it would need to be for the key.

But from the sounds of it you just want to toss something on it. If that is the case you can use any OS you want be it Win95, XP, Linux, or DOS even. 🙂

As far as XP goes you can install any version just fine as long as you have a key for it.