Academic Version of XP Pro Upgrade CD Key Won't Work

[Guest]

I'm upgrading my XP Home Edition to XP Professional SP2 using the Academic
version (I'm a student). Unfortunately, using the authentic CD right out of
the box and the CD Key on the back isn't working. CD KEY INVALID is all I
get. I assure that I have meticulously checked each character multiple times
ensuring it is correct. Why would Microsoft sell me a CD and CD Key that
don't work together? How can i resolve this?

 

[Guest]

I suspect that ACAD versions are more like OEM's than UPGRADES. If you
computer already has Windows on it, ACAD will not work. Computer has to be
empty.

charles....

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Have someone else try, sometimes another set of eyes and fingers get it
right.

Was the packaging intact and factory sealed when you bought it so you are
sure you are using the key that came with that particular CD?
Return it to the store for exchange.

 

[Guest]

I don't think so. The place that sold it to me said it was exactly the same
as XP Pro SP2 only sold at an academic price for students like myself. The
box even states "Academic Price" on it.

In any event it says right on the box "Upgrade" and then lists all the
versions you can upgrade from. Windows Home Edition is on the list.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Now you make me wonder...
"The place that sold it to me..."
Hopefully it was your school.
If not, are you 100% sure the source is legitimate and selling a legitimate
product?
Many are not and do not.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I'm upgrading my XP Home Edition to XP Professional SP2 using the
Academic version (I'm a student). Unfortunately, using the
authentic CD right out of the box and the CD Key on the back isn't
working. CD KEY INVALID is all I get. I assure that I have
meticulously checked each character multiple times ensuring it is
correct. Why would Microsoft sell me a CD and CD Key that don't
work together? How can i resolve this?

Return it to the place at the school where you purchased it.
Tell them about your troubles and see if they will swap you out with another
CD.

 

[Guest]

The problem was that the OS on the new HP was Media Center edition and not
Home edition; therefore no way it was going to upgrade to XP Pro. Even wiping
the hard drive clean with a windows 98 SE boot disk using fdisk and trying a
new install with Windows XP Pro just brought a blue screen. That would be
related to hardware though I think. Anyway, be advised these new media center
machines aren't upgradable to XP Pro even XP Pro SP2. They do go to Vista
though.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

The problem was that the OS on the new HP was Media Center edition
and not Home edition; therefore no way it was going to upgrade to
XP Pro. Even wiping the hard drive clean with a windows 98 SE boot
disk using fdisk and trying a new install with Windows XP Pro just
brought a blue screen. That would be related to hardware though I
think. Anyway, be advised these new media center machines aren't
upgradable to XP Pro even XP Pro SP2. They do go to Vista though.

They are not *upgradable* to Windows XP Professional because they are
Windows XP professional with a few additions and some noteworthy
subtractions (ability to join a domain, for example.)

As far as your blue screen when you had "wiped the system clean and tried to
install Windows XP" <- sounds like your PC has other issues - as that should
(will) work fine - sans other (hardware?) issues.

 

[Guest]

Of course media center and home edition are Windows XP minus what someone
looking to upgrade to XP Pro wants. Of course. Why else would they upgrade to
XP Pro if they weren't looking for those features that don't exist in their
current operating system?

In my case, I wanted to connect to a domain.

Regarding the hardware issues, I believe this is a parent/child shadow 32
bit driver issue with the disk controller card in the machine. Unfortunately,
HP doesn't make an XP pro version of the driver (I asked and checked their
site) and XP Pro has no support for that device as a result always resulting
in the BSOD.

 

[Larry Samuels]

Incorrect--XP Media Center is XP Pro + the media center additions. To join
XP media center to a domain you need to do a clean installation and join the
domain *during* install.
Doing so will disable fast user switching which will kill the ability to use
media center extenders.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-