Trying to re-install XP, product key doesn't work

[Ashley]

My laptop is having issues and I am trying to re-install Windows XP. I have
the XP disc that came with laptop, as well as the Vista disc that came with
my laptop (my laptop is supposed to be able to support either). I would LIKE
to install XP and NOT vista.

The problem is that when I come to the "insert Product Key" screen during
the XP installation, and I flip over my laptop to get the product key, the
sticker says "Windows Vista Business" and then has the product key. That
product key does NOT work to install Windows XP.

From it saying "Windows Vista Business" I would think that that product key
would work if I was trying to install Vista. However, I did not receive any
other product key with this laptop, so that's all I have. I would much
prefer to NOT install Vista, and I do not want to have to purchase a product
key from microsoft to re-install XP. What do I do?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My laptop is having issues and I am trying to re-install Windows
XP. I have the XP disc that came with laptop, as well as the Vista
disc that came with my laptop (my laptop is supposed to be able to
support either). I would LIKE to install XP and NOT vista.

The problem is that when I come to the "insert Product Key" screen
during the XP installation, and I flip over my laptop to get the
product key, the sticker says "Windows Vista Business" and then has
the product key. That product key does NOT work to install Windows
XP.

From it saying "Windows Vista Business" I would think that that
product key would work if I was trying to install Vista. However,
I did not receive any other product key with this laptop, so that's
all I have. I would much prefer to NOT install Vista, and I do not
want to have to purchase a product key from microsoft to re-install
XP. What do I do?

Use whatever product key came with Windows XP...

Didn't get one - should have - contact those you purchased the laptop and
licenses for the operating systems from.

 

[Ashley]

Use whatever product key came with Windows XP...

Didn't get one - should have - contact those you purchased the laptop and
licenses for the operating systems from.

That's the problem, I can't. My dad bought the laptop through the last
place he worked at - he basically said "I want a laptop" and his company
ordered it for him (my dad paid for it) and it came set up and everything.
He no longer works there, and he doesn't think that (even if he did) they
would tell him where they actually bought their computers from.

This may be a very stupid question, but there's no way to find out what my
product key is through somehow using my computer, is there?

Also, that brings me to another question: I am using XP now. I'm trying to
install XP. Could the product key that I mentioned BE an XP product key, and
could the problem be that I'm currently using the product key (in the version
of XP I'm running now), and that Microsoft recognizes that I'm using the
product key, so I somehow have to get rid of the XP I'm running before I try
to install the new version?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My laptop is having issues and I am trying to re-install Windows
XP. I have the XP disc that came with laptop, as well as the Vista
disc that came with my laptop (my laptop is supposed to be able to
support either). I would LIKE to install XP and NOT vista.

The problem is that when I come to the "insert Product Key" screen
during the XP installation, and I flip over my laptop to get the
product key, the sticker says "Windows Vista Business" and then has
the product key. That product key does NOT work to install Windows
XP.

From it saying "Windows Vista Business" I would think that that
product key would work if I was trying to install Vista. However,
I did not receive any other product key with this laptop, so that's
all I have. I would much prefer to NOT install Vista, and I do not
want to have to purchase a product key from microsoft to re-install
XP. What do I do?

Use whatever product key came with Windows XP...

Didn't get one - should have - contact those you purchased the
laptop and licenses for the operating systems from.

That's the problem, I can't. My dad bought the laptop through the
last place he worked at - he basically said "I want a laptop" and
his company ordered it for him (my dad paid for it) and it came set
up and everything. He no longer works there, and he doesn't think
that (even if he did) they would tell him where they actually
bought their computers from.

This may be a very stupid question, but there's no way to find out
what my product key is through somehow using my computer, is there?

Also, that brings me to another question: I am using XP now. I'm
trying to install XP. Could the product key that I mentioned BE an
XP product key, and could the problem be that I'm currently using
the product key (in the version of XP I'm running now), and that
Microsoft recognizes that I'm using the product key, so I somehow
have to get rid of the XP I'm running before I try to install the
new version?

If you still had Windows XP running on the laptop (you seemingly don't,
given what you have so far) - you could get the key from the working
installation.

Since you do not - and the sticker says Vista on it - then you do not have a
license (proof of) for Windows XP.

At that point in the installation (before activation) there is no possible
check for a used product key.

If you have somehow misspoke and the laptop still has a working install of
Windows XP - use Belarc Advisor to get the product key (www.belarc.com)...

 

[Tim Jackson]

My laptop is having issues and I am trying to re-install Windows XP. I
have
the XP disc that came with laptop, as well as the Vista disc that came
with
my laptop (my laptop is supposed to be able to support either). I would
LIKE
to install XP and NOT vista.

The problem is that when I come to the "insert Product Key" screen during
the XP installation, and I flip over my laptop to get the product key, the
sticker says "Windows Vista Business" and then has the product key. That
product key does NOT work to install Windows XP.

From it saying "Windows Vista Business" I would think that that product
key
would work if I was trying to install Vista. However, I did not receive
any
other product key with this laptop, so that's all I have. I would much
prefer to NOT install Vista, and I do not want to have to purchase a
product
key from microsoft to re-install XP. What do I do?

This sounds like you are trying to use the XP downgrade rights that come
with your Vista Business license. To do this you need to install XP Pro
using any valid XP Pro license (key) then when it comes time to activate
your installation use the phone option and explain to the Microsoft employee
you speak to that you are exercising your Vista Business to XP downgrade
rights.

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...cbd-699b0c164182/royaltyoemreferencesheet.pdf

 

[smlunatick]

That's the problem, I can't.  My dad bought the laptop through the last
place he worked at - he basically said "I want a laptop" and his company
ordered it for him (my dad paid for it) and it came set up and everything..  
He no longer works there, and he doesn't think that (even if he did) they
would tell him where they actually bought their computers from.  

This may be a very stupid question, but there's no way to find out what my
product key is through somehow using my computer, is there?  

Also, that brings me to another question:  I am using XP now.  I'm trying to
install XP.  Could the product key that I mentioned BE an XP product key, and
could the problem be that I'm currently using the product key (in the version
of XP I'm running now), and that Microsoft recognizes that I'm using the
product key, so I somehow have to get rid of the XP I'm running before I try
to install the new version?

The centre of your problem is the fact that the version of XP was
never "generated" specifically for the Vista Business laptop.
Whenever a Vista Business based PC is delivered with a XP downgrade
right, the "recovery" Cd does not normally request a CD Key. You
would probably need to contact the laptop's manufacturer in order to
request a new CD for the the XP downgrade setting.

 

[smlunatick]

That's the problem, I can't.  My dad bought the laptop through the last
place he worked at - he basically said "I want a laptop" and his company
ordered it for him (my dad paid for it) and it came set up and everything..  
He no longer works there, and he doesn't think that (even if he did) they
would tell him where they actually bought their computers from.  

This may be a very stupid question, but there's no way to find out what my
product key is through somehow using my computer, is there?  

Also, that brings me to another question:  I am using XP now.  I'm trying to
install XP.  Could the product key that I mentioned BE an XP product key, and
could the problem be that I'm currently using the product key (in the version
of XP I'm running now), and that Microsoft recognizes that I'm using the
product key, so I somehow have to get rid of the XP I'm running before I try
to install the new version?

Also, if the laptop was set up by a company, then the version of XP
installed on it could be the company's Volume License. You need to
find software to read the current install XP key. Besides Belarc
advisor, Magic Jellybean can be used to display the actual install key
used.