Can a Windows XP Professional disc for a desktop work on a laptop?

Or does it not matter either way?

Can a Windows XP Professional disc for a desktop work on a laptop?windows messenger

Windows XP professional or home WILL work on either a laptop or desktop.

Can a Windows XP Professional disc for a desktop work on a laptop?microsoft works internet explorer

It doesn't matter. it will work.
If it is an OEM copy (one that came with the desktop) it will probably not work. If it is a retail (you bought it in a store), then it will work. If you have a SATA drive, be sure to set it to legacy mode.
It will work but you have to keep copy of all the drivers, sometimes invalid drivers will stop xp installation on laptop's. It happened to me on Simens Laptop, I formated the Hard disk and started to install windows xp but in the starting the blue screen popup showing some error message pci.sys, i tried but not worked and I have to take the laptop to pc shop and they installed xp on it because they have recovery tools. Now i copied the entire system to dvd with Norton Ghost in case i format i can recover all the system same as it was