XP disk versus Laptop Recovery Disk?

[Black Panther]

My dad wants me to do a clean reinstall of Windows on his laptop.
Through SIW I know his windows code and so I can install xp off one of my disks and use his legit code.
He also has a 'recovery disk' for his laptop, but I've got no experience with recovery disks and don't know what they contain... is it a normal XP?

Would it be best for me to reinstall using the normal XP diskette?

[Pinchy]

Recovery disks are just OEM copies of XP disks. Ie, they can have things such as the companys logo within the files.

If you got a normal XP disk you cant use it. The only way your dads copy of XP will activate is if your normal XP copy is OEM, unless you use the recovery disk.

I always use the recovery disks. Works just like a normal copy . Plus with the recovery disks you dont need the serial key as I *think* its embedded into the files on the disk. Just need to activate windows once on the net .

[alexp999]

Also, the recovery discs often contain all the bundled software. This reminds me, I need to find out if I can send of for a 64-bit recovery disc. Mine only came with 32bit even though it was sold as a 64bit compatible laptop.