Installing Windows XP with key from another CD
 

Can I use a genuine Chinese Microsoft Windows XP product key with a genuine Microsoft Windows XP OEM edition CD?

I just got a used laptop from my parents in Hong Kong, but the laptop has Chinese Windows installed on it. Since it's a genuine edition, I don't want to waste it, but I find it hard to work with Chinese.

I am planning on extracting the key from the Chinese Windows and use it to install English Windows with it.

Is this do-able and legal (as in can I still use windows update)?

Edit:
Searching the web reveals that the key's version needs to match the CD's version. Is this true?

It won't work, I tried

each key is unique to that CD

Even back in the Windows 95 era, the keys of Chinese Windows and English Windows weren't interchangeable.

I'm pretty sure this is false.

Each key can only be used with the same 'version' of the OS.
Examples of different 'versions'
XP Home
XP Home OEM
XP Home SP1
XP Home OEM SP1
XP Home SP2
XP Home OEM SP2
XP Pro
XP Pro OEM
XP Pro Upgrade
...
...
XP MCE
...
etc.

as long as it's same "edition""version", it should work, regardless of what language it came from

doubt that

I figured that the version has to be the same, or else people would be buying XP Home for the product key, and just borrow a XP Pro CD and install XP Pro for the price of XP Home.

Now it's just whether the language has to match or not.

Thanks.

Oh I did not know that, I have always thought that each CD will have its own keys

I stand corrected

um....my winxp pro with SP2 key won't work on SP3.

^ reread freakshows list...

Can't you download a torrent of a legit, unmodified copy of whatever version of XP you have, then try to install it with your key?