In a nutshell - no. I will try to keep this as non-technical as possible as although I have alot of experience with keys and key generation, it will go over most people's heads here. There are three types of keys for XP - Retail, OEM and VL. Each of these keys are generated with a slightly different algorithm, so a retail key cannot be used on a VL install etc. There are also 3 editions of install disc to suit the three different keys - each decryption routine is different to suit the different keys.

The VL CD will mention that it requires a VL key to activate (or the downloaded ISO will have VLK in the filename). Dino Crisis Sourcenext Download. This is the key provided to you by Microsoft, usually on a certificate (with number of instances licenced etc) via a VL reseller. It should also be available from e-Open or MS VLK licencing websites.

Windows XP Professional Boot Disk Download. These are the Windows XP Professional Edition boot disk images available from AllBootDisks. Download the diskette image you need, and if you need assistance creating a bootable diskette from this image, visit the how-to page.

The OEM keys are usually stuck to the machine when purchased. This could be a big OEM or the local computer store. The Sticker should say 'Microsoft Windows XP Professional 1-2CPU, OEM Product' if it is original release or XP1 included, or 'Microsoft Windows XP Professional 1-2CPU, OEM Software' (if it is SP2 or later). If you have a key on the machine marked OEM, then you need the OEM install disc! Retail key stickers have no mention of OEM, so you need a retail disc for that. The issues come up when you have Dell, HP or HPQ OEM keys.

I have found that the standard OEM image often DOES NOT WORK on these keys. Microsoft had a problem where XP lasted alot longer than the expected or planned, and hence they basically ran out of keys! Part of SP3 was to expand the keys by adding another algorithm to the key decryption routines. In another way to get around the looming key shortage, I believe that Dell, HP and HPQ were issued with new OS images with their own key algorithm which were all separate in order to prolong the life of the remaining OEM and retail key space. Cad Edition Manager Microstation Update V8 Splash.

As a result, pumping in a key marked as 'Dell OEM' is not likely to work on the normal OEM install - although it may, I just cannot get it to work, mostly with HP and HPQ keys. If you had asked this 12 months ago, I would have said to contact your preferred MS VL reseller, and give documentation (photographs of key stickers, plus a document listing them and their type) and request they be converted to a VL key. Microsoft would then issue a new VL key with the correct number of activations, and block all the old keys in WGA and stop updates etc. You would then have to re-image your machines, I think they gave you 30 days grace to get it done. There could have been a fee for this too. Now that XP is officially EOL (no longer technically on sale) then I do not believe that you can do this now. I think you need to check what keys you have, and what media they need, and get it all documented somewhere.

Make sure you have current (SP3) install media or ISO's for each of your key types, reinstalling XP1 media and then updating gets old real quick. If you have a specific manufacturer OEM media, you may find you need to Slipstream SP3 in on a disc image. There are plenty of tutorials on how to do this on the web - just google 'Slipstream XP SP3' and you will find instructions.

I hope that helps you (and anyone else). Just to add to the Dell discussion, I called them for my Vista rollout image and asked why Vista wouldn't activate after I used the change product key feature and typed in the key on the box. They said it wasn't the one being used. Furthermore, they said I don't need to change the key to match the box and it should always pass WGA using whatever key they had on it when I imaged it. This is due to the key looking for a string in the BIOS (service tag) and the actual license code stuck on the box is a formality.

As for the OP's question - Mitsimonsta nailed it. There is no all-knowing XP CD. I did once read how to change an OEM CD to a VL CD or Retail CD by changing a setting in an ini/inf somewhere on the CD and re-burning it.

Personally I'd rather download from MS than chance it though. Having read this, i feel pretty lucky that i've never had a problem using my OEM XP pro CD that i got three years ago from my supplier. I also managed to get hold of another XP pro disc last week, brand new. We bought a little business that had one pc, and (surprise, surprise) it wasn't a legit install. So I went straight online to get the genuine advantage whatever key, paid £75 on the credit card, they gave me a new key, and posted a new disc over too.

I suspect that, over the next couple of years, if you want an XP pro CD, that'll be the way to do it.