I decided to re-install XP pro on my daughter's portable. I wiped out the
hard drive and started a complete new install. When I get to the point where
it request the installation key and I enter it, it always comes back and tell
me the installation key is invalid. I have check and rechecked and I am
keying it in correctly. I was guessing that there might be some sort of
hardware problem, but what show up on the screen does match the key required,
so I can not imagine what the problem might be. I have a MSDN subscription
and even the key I retrieved from this site says it is an invalid key. I'm
not sure where to go from here.

Did you try the telephone activation.With MSDN subscription and even having the key
if you exceed 10 installs with activation as is allowed to you then you will always
encounter this issue

--
Peter

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"JimHeavey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:2E7C778C-5AEC-4761-B77A-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I decided to re-install XP pro on my daughter's portable. I wiped out the
> hard drive and started a complete new install. When I get to the point where
> it request the installation key and I enter it, it always comes back and tell
> me the installation key is invalid. I have check and rechecked and I am
> keying it in correctly. I was guessing that there might be some sort of
> hardware problem, but what show up on the screen does match the key required,
> so I can not imagine what the problem might be. I have a MSDN subscription
> and even the key I retrieved from this site says it is an invalid key. I'm
> not sure where to go from here.
>
>

You are speaking of "activation". The machine is not connected to anything
and it would not recognize if the key had been used or not used. The key
entered is failing a check sum key at the local level and it is indicating
that the key itself is invalid and would never have been valid....

On Jan 19, 2:37*pm, JimHeavey <JimHea...@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:
> You are speaking of "activation". *The machine is not connected to anything
> and it would not recognize if the key had been used or not used. *The key
> entered is failing a check sum key at the local level and it is indicating
> that the key itself is invalid and would never have been valid....

You have mixed up the XP CD key type. XP CD keys are "coded" to
respond to the version of the install CD. You can not install XP OEM
CD key (most probably the version shipped with the laptop) when
reformatted the drive with the different version of the installed CD.

Retail keys needs a retail CD
OEM keys needs to original OEM CD delivered with the key
Volume License keys (large company installs for greater that 5 XP at
one time) requires the special VL version of the install CD

MSDN keys are also unique and you must use the MSDN version of the XP
install CD.


Also, you will need use the correct version of the CD. You can not
use XP Pro install CD to re-install XP Home.

JimHeavey wrote:
> I decided to re-install XP pro on my daughter's portable. I wiped
> out the hard drive and started a complete new install. When I get
> to the point where it request the installation key and I enter it,
> it always comes back and tell me the installation key is invalid.
> I have check and rechecked and I am keying it in correctly. I was
> guessing that there might be some sort of hardware problem, but
> what show up on the screen does match the key required, so I can
> not imagine what the problem might be. I have a MSDN subscription
> and even the key I retrieved from this site says it is an invalid
> key. I'm not sure where to go from here.

An MSDN product key will not work with media other than MSDN media.
A Retail product key will not work with media other than Retail media.
An OEM product key will not work with media other than OEM media.

When you picked up the CD to do the installation on your daughter's
laptop/portable - was it the same type of media (CD) as the product key for
your daughter's laptop/portable?

Given the information - I would bet the daughter's laptop/portable came with
Windows XP installed - meaning an OEM copy is more than likely (99+%
chance.) If you utilized a CD other than an OEM CD - the product key that
is likely on a sticker on your daughter's laptop/portable is not going to
work (unless you modified the SETUPP.INI and burned a new copy of the CD to
use appropriately.)

Please give more detail. ;-)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

I am not using an XP OEM.

I have downloaded XP Pro from the MSDN site...
I attempted to install the installation software downloaded from the MSDN
site with the MSDN key.
Then machine tells me that my product key is invalid.
I have tried this with XP Pro (original), XP Pro Service Pack 2, XP Pro
Service Pack 3 - all tell me the product key is invalid.

On Jan 19, 4:14*pm, OldButStillLearning
<OldButStillLearn...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> I am not using an XP OEM.
>
> I have downloaded XP Pro from the MSDN site...
> I attempted to install the installation software downloaded from the MSDN
> site with the MSDN key.
> Then machine tells me that my product key is invalid.
> I have tried this with XP Pro (original), XP Pro Service Pack 2, XP Pro
> Service Pack 3 - all tell me the product key is invalid.

I have encountered some keys (printed by Microsoft) that were
confusing:

Sometimes, the

B looked like 8
5 " " S
O " " 0
l " " 1

and vise versa.


Also, Microsoft seems to have a tendency of adding CD keys to their
"banned" list.

My daughters machine came with XP Home which I immediately upgraded to xp Pro.

Prior to wiping out the hard drive and rebuilding the machine, I ran a
utility that I found on the web which provides you with the Product Key
(KeyFinder http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/ ).

Using XP pro installation CD, I install using the key returned to me with
KeyFinder and I get an invalid key.

Downloading XP Pro from MSDN, serveral different versions (Original, Service
Pack 2, Service Pack 3) and any one of the keys which MS provides with my
subscription to MSDN, I get an invalid Product key.

I have not mis-keyed the value, I have checked, recheck and then rechecked
again - all provide the same error message - Invalid Product Key.

JimHeavey wrote:
> My daughters machine came with XP Home which I immediately upgraded
> to xp Pro.
>
> Prior to wiping out the hard drive and rebuilding the machine, I
> ran a utility that I found on the web which provides you with the
> Product Key (KeyFinder http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/ ).
>
> Using XP pro installation CD, I install using the key returned to
> me with KeyFinder and I get an invalid key.
>
> Downloading XP Pro from MSDN, serveral different versions
> (Original, Service Pack 2, Service Pack 3) and any one of the keys
> which MS provides with my subscription to MSDN, I get an invalid
> Product key.
>
> I have not mis-keyed the value, I have checked, recheck and then
> rechecked again - all provide the same error message - Invalid
> Product Key.

When you upgraded your daughter's computer to Windows XP Professional - what
media did you use?

Retail?
Retail Upgrade?
(Those are your two choices if you actually performed an upgrade
installation.)

As for your MSDN CD problem - test to see if the machine is causing the
trouble - or if you have something else to look at - use the ISO download to
install on a Virtual machine (like a VirtualBox machine) with your MSDN key.
If it works - then there is a problem with the machine.

I assume you are downloading:
Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3 (x86) - CD (English)
File Name:
en_windows_xp_professional_with_service_pack_3_x86_cd_x14-80428.iso

Have you tried clicking on "Get another Key" and trying a different key?
(Yes - I have an MSDN subscription.)

Why did you upgrade it to professional in the first place?
Did it need to join a domain?
Using EFS?
Remote Desktop to it? (I'd have just put TeamViewer on it. heh)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

It took 9 MSDN keys before I found one which would work, but It successfully
installed. I tried the Virtual Machine you suggested, and that was a very
nice suggestion. Thanks