MCE 2002 repair

I'm trying to fix a machine that has MCE 2002 SP3 according to its system properties and all the dialogs etc when I could get it booted. The motherboard capacitors were blown so I am attempting to boot it on a different machine. The issue is that he was never given CDs and its using HP restore partition tools to "repair" his computer. So far that repair option has done a lot of damage, it either will completely replaces the partition, or wipes out the users and messes up the NTFS rights because of that.
I have found doing a install/repair using the XP cds I have sort of works, except that it makes the system reset and require reactivation so everything works as expected except it stays in "activation mode" since its a hybrid of MCE and XP. I've spent a lot of time trying various things to try and get it to activate, so far no luck. I wish they had given him a real CD, but wishes aren't horses.
If anyone has any experience like this and has a magic trick I'd appreciate learning the secret. In the mean time I'm going to try the hp "non-destructive" restore again and see if I can clean it up well enough that it can be used again.

Thanks in advance.