can not upgrade to windows xp pro- invalid product key.

[QuyNguyen]

HI,
It is weird that when I try to upgrade my laptop windows xp media center
edition to windows XP pro. after I accept agreement. It asked to fill in
product key. I fill out the key and receive the message "The CD key which
you entered is invalid. Please try again".
I am sure that this key is valid and I am able to install in any PC without
any problem. Why does it happen? Thank you very much for any help

 

[smlunatick]

HI,
It is weird that when I try to upgrade my laptop windows xp media center
edition to windows XP pro. after I accept agreement. It asked to fill in
product key. I fill out the key and receive the message "The CD key which
you entered is invalid.  Please try again".
I am sure that this key is valid and I am able to install in any PC without
any problem. Why does it happen? Thank you very much for any help

You can not upgrade from MCE to Pro. MCE is an OEM product only that
is an enhanced version of Pro.

CD keys are not interchangeable between the different versions of XP.

 

[QuyNguyen]

thank you.

HI,
It is weird that when I try to upgrade my laptop windows xp media center
edition to windows XP pro. after I accept agreement. It asked to fill in
product key. I fill out the key and receive the message "The CD key which
you entered is invalid. Please try again".
I am sure that this key is valid and I am able to install in any PC
without
any problem. Why does it happen? Thank you very much for any help

You can not upgrade from MCE to Pro. MCE is an OEM product only that
is an enhanced version of Pro.

CD keys are not interchangeable between the different versions of XP.

 

[QuyNguyen]

As you says that the keys are not interchangeable between different version
of XP. How come I am able to upgrade windows XP home to Windows XP pro.

HI,
It is weird that when I try to upgrade my laptop windows xp media center
edition to windows XP pro. after I accept agreement. It asked to fill in
product key. I fill out the key and receive the message "The CD key which
you entered is invalid. Please try again".
I am sure that this key is valid and I am able to install in any PC
without
any problem. Why does it happen? Thank you very much for any help

You can not upgrade from MCE to Pro. MCE is an OEM product only that
is an enhanced version of Pro.

CD keys are not interchangeable between the different versions of XP.

 

[Muzafar Ganie]

Hi

if you are trying to upgrade from xp MC to xp pro you will get the message
"invalid product key" as we can not upgrade from MCE to Pro.MCE is same as xp
pro but with Media center facility in additional.
We can upgrade from xp home to xp pro as xp pro is higher version of xp home

Muzafar

 

[QuyNguyen]

If MCE is the same as xp pro. I do not to upgrade to Pro because MCE can not
join domain?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

HI,
It is weird that when I try to upgrade my laptop windows xp media center
edition to windows XP pro. after I accept agreement. It asked to fill in
product key. I fill out the key and receive the message "The CD key which
you entered is invalid. Please try again".
I am sure that this key is valid and I am able to install in any PC without
any problem. Why does it happen? Thank you very much for any help

Transitioning from WinXP MCE to WinXP Pro is a _downgrade_.

WinXP Media Center Edition is a _superset_ (iow, it does
_everything_ WinXP Pro can do (except join a domain), plus contains
additional multi-media features) of WinXP Pro.

Windows XP Media Center Edition Home
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ehome/default.asp


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Ian D]

If MCE is the same as xp pro. I do not to upgrade to Pro because MCE can
not join domain?

XP MCE is not XP Pro with media centre features. It's a subset of XP Pro
with media centre, and as you found out, the ability to join domains is not
included in MCE. Your problem is that there is no upgrade path from MCE
to Pro. A clean install is the only route, and if your XP Pro is an upgrade
version that won't work. There is a way. If your MCE installation is
expendible, start the XP Pro installation from the CD and use an XP Home
CD as the qualifying OS when asked. Opt to format the partition during the
installation, and MCE will be gone. If you don't have an XP Home CD, a
Win98 or WinMe disk will do. Just be sure you have all your drivers
available.

 

[Daave]

HI,
It is weird that when I try to upgrade my laptop windows xp media
center edition to windows XP pro. after I accept agreement. It asked
to fill in product key. I fill out the key and receive the message
"The CD key which you entered is invalid. Please try again".
I am sure that this key is valid and I am able to install in any PC
without any problem. Why does it happen? Thank you very much for any
help

Since it appears you are interested in the ability to join a domain, why
not try the following:

1. Make an image of your hard drive to be on the safe side.

2. Try the method listed on the following page to enable XP MCE to join
a domain:

http://blog.tiensivu.com/aaron/archives/29-Join-a-domain-with-Windows-Media-Center-Edition.html

 

[smlunatick]

XP MCE is not XP Pro with media centre features.  It's a subset of XP Pro
with media centre, and as you found out, the ability to join domains is not
included in MCE.  Your problem is that there is no upgrade path from MCE
to Pro.  A clean install is the only route, and if your XP Pro is an upgrade
version that won't work.  There is a way.  If your MCE installation is
expendible, start the XP Pro installation from the CD and use an XP Home
CD as the qualifying OS when asked. Opt to format the partition during the
installation, and MCE will be gone. If you don't have an XP Home CD, a
Win98 or WinMe disk will do.  Just be sure you have all your drivers
available.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

MCE is not a "subset" of XP. MCE is "superset" (adjusted Pro with
"domain" access removed "after the primary setup")

MCE can only ever be set up for a domain access at the "first"
install. I have tried and tested this.