My Legit Product Key is Not Working

[Guest]

My harddrive crashed a few days ago and I bought a new one. I tried to use a
set of recovery CDs that I purchased from HP - but the first (of 7) CD
immediately gives an error saying that this "PC System is not supported".
I'm convinced I ordered the right CD set - but I will follow up with HP on
that later. So in the meantime, I have a WinXP Home and PRO combo CD from a
friend. My thought was that I would be able to install WinXP Home Edition
and use my Product Key that I own and that is on the side panel of my PC. I
trust his judgement and he said that that was completely legal since I was
using my key.

However, immediately after I enter the 25 character key - it says "The CD
key you entered is not valid".

Is this because his CD of WinXP:
a) is a combo disc of Home and Pro and so the home part is a different
version of home edition and has a different key validation algorithm
b) the version of home edition on his CD is a newer version with SP1 or SP2
and as a result the key validation algorithm is different.
c) something else.

I bought my computer in 2000 or 2001 - before SP1.

I'd appreciate some help.

 

[Kerry Brown]

My harddrive crashed a few days ago and I bought a new one. I tried to
use a
set of recovery CDs that I purchased from HP - but the first (of 7) CD
immediately gives an error saying that this "PC System is not supported".
I'm convinced I ordered the right CD set - but I will follow up with HP on
that later. So in the meantime, I have a WinXP Home and PRO combo CD from
a
friend. My thought was that I would be able to install WinXP Home Edition
and use my Product Key that I own and that is on the side panel of my PC.
I
trust his judgement and he said that that was completely legal since I was
using my key.

Two things

1) I have been in the business a long time and I have never heard of a
WinXP Home and Pro combo CD. It is most likely a pirate copy.

2) The product keys are specific to the version and type of Windows XP. A
key from one OEM may not work on another OEM CD and it will definitely not
work on a retail or volume licence CD, although I'm also pretty sure XP Home
is not available as a volume licence anyway.

Kerry Brown
KDB Systems

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My harddrive crashed a few days ago and I bought a new one. I tried to use a
set of recovery CDs that I purchased from HP - but the first (of 7) CD
immediately gives an error saying that this "PC System is not supported".
I'm convinced I ordered the right CD set - but I will follow up with HP on
that later. So in the meantime, I have a WinXP Home and PRO combo CD from a
friend. My thought was that I would be able to install WinXP Home Edition
and use my Product Key that I own and that is on the side panel of my PC. I
trust his judgement and he said that that was completely legal since I was
using my key.

However, immediately after I enter the 25 character key - it says "The CD
key you entered is not valid".

Is this because his CD of WinXP:
a) is a combo disc of Home and Pro and so the home part is a different
version of home edition and has a different key validation algorithm

Correct. It sounds like an MSDN CD. This means that an OEM Product
Key could not be expected to work with it.

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of CD/license
(OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are purchased.
For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key (which is what you have)won't
work for any retail version of WinXP Home (which is what your friend
has), or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice versa. An upgrade's
Product Key cannot be used with a full version CD, and vice versa. An
OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail product. An Italian
Product Key will not work with an English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys
and CD types cannot be mixed & matched.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Two things

1) I have been in the business a long time and I have never heard of a
WinXP Home and Pro combo CD. It is most likely a pirate copy.

Never heard of the Microsoft Developer Software Network (MSDN)
subscription CDs? ;-}






--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[lvee]

his product key is for his cd, his pc, yours is for yours..you are trying to
put his cd with it's product key in your pc that was previously licensed
with your product key..it won't work that way.. just like your car key
won't work in his car.
here is an article about Product activation key...it's quite lengthy, scroll
to the parts that are pertinent to you.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My harddrive crashed a few days ago and I bought a new one. I tried to use a
set of recovery CDs that I purchased from HP - but the first (of 7) CD
immediately gives an error saying that this "PC System is not supported".
I'm convinced I ordered the right CD set - but I will follow up with HP on
that later. So in the meantime, I have a WinXP Home and PRO combo CD from a
friend. My thought was that I would be able to install WinXP Home Edition
and use my Product Key that I own and that is on the side panel of my PC. I
trust his judgement and he said that that was completely legal since I was
using my key.

However, immediately after I enter the 25 character key - it says "The CD
key you entered is not valid".

Is this because his CD of WinXP:
a) is a combo disc of Home and Pro and so the home part is a different
version of home edition and has a different key validation algorithm
b) the version of home edition on his CD is a newer version with SP1 or SP2
and as a result the key validation algorithm is different.
c) something else.

I bought my computer in 2000 or 2001 - before SP1.

I'd appreciate some help.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Guest]

Right - it is an MSDN CD. My Key would be an OEM from HP. OK so that is it.

Believe me - I will not participate in any pirating activity. I made that
decision 8 years ago as a student when a dorm neighbor challenged me about my
Christian beliefs and how I had a pirate copy of Word 2.0. A few days later
I went out and spend $200 on the same software I already had and have not
pirated since. It is important to me that everything I have is legit.

So - the way to get my home PC back in working order is to work with HP to
figure out why the recovery CDs they gave me will not work.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Kerry Brown]

1) I have been in the business a long time and I have never heard of a

Never heard of the Microsoft Developer Software Network (MSDN)
subscription CDs? ;-}

Oops

I thought of that afterwards but figured that anyone that had a MSDN CD
would probably already know what the problem was. I used to subscribe but go
though the Action Pack program to get the latest CD's now. I'm blaming it
Sunday morning fuzziness.

Kerry Brown
KDB Systems

 

[kurttrail]

his product key is for his cd, his pc, yours is for yours..you are
trying to put his cd with it's product key in your pc that was
previously licensed with your product key..it won't work that way..
just like your car key won't work in his car.
here is an article about Product activation key...it's quite lengthy,
scroll to the parts that are pertinent to you.

Wrong. Product Keys are specific to the version of CD, not a particular
CD.

An OEM Key will work with an OEM CD.

A Retail Key will work with a Retail CD.

A VL Key will work with VL Media.

MS doesn't tie the PK to any specific CD.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Leythos]

I thought of that afterwards but figured that anyone that had a MSDN CD
would probably already know what the problem was. I used to subscribe but go
though the Action Pack program to get the latest CD's now. I'm blaming it
Sunday morning fuzziness.

Kerry, the action pack is Nice, but you can subscribe to the ISV program
and get 4 MSDN Universal licenses for $400.

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <#[email protected]> "Kerry Brown"

1) I have been in the business a long time and I have never heard of a
WinXP Home and Pro combo CD. It is most likely a pirate copy.

Probably, although that might not make it illegal -- As long as the
license is valid, you can use whatever media you want.

I often use some "pirate" copies when doing repair work, but I make damn
sure I enter the license that the user actually owns (and that I don't
try to mismatch OEM vs retail vs corporate editions)

 

[JerryMouse]

Kerry, the action pack is Nice, but you can subscribe to the ISV
program
and get 4 MSDN Universal licenses for $400.

With the Action Pack, you get ten licenses for $200. Plus ten licenses for
Office, Publisher, etc.

Which is a better deal. Hmm. Let me think... (mumble, mumble, carry the
two....).

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Oops

I thought of that afterwards but figured that anyone that had a MSDN CD
would probably already know what the problem was.

I'd have thought so, as well, but I have met several successful
programmers and software engineers who seemed to me to be woefully
ignorant of the way computers and operating systems actually work,
beyond the narrow scope of the application they're writing. I think
some of the higher-level programming languages have made things too easy
for them.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[BBUNNY]

| "Bruce Chambers" wrote:
|
|| Bentwood wrote:

Bentwood wrote:
| Right - it is an MSDN CD. My Key would be an OEM from HP. OK so
| that is it.
|
| Believe me - I will not participate in any pirating activity. I made
| that decision 8 years ago as a student when a dorm neighbor
| challenged me about my Christian beliefs and how I had a pirate copy
| of Word 2.0. A few days later I went out and spend $200 on the same
| software I already had and have not pirated since. It is important
| to me that everything I have is legit.
|
| So - the way to get my home PC back in working order is to work with
| HP to figure out why the recovery CDs they gave me will not work.
|
| Thanks for your help.

HP is where you should go anyway. This is an OEM version and it is
clearly stated that MS does not support OEM. Frankly I cannot
understand
the need for all of the chatter that this thread generated.

 

[asfsd]

Yes, quite a long philosophical arguement for a pretty simple question...
Regarding the problem with the CD's:
"I tried to use a set of recovery CDs that I purchased from HP - but the
first (of 7) CD immediately gives an error saying that this "PC System is
not supported".
You did not mention if your new drive was identical to the dead one, but I
assume it was not. Ergo, you no longer have the PC system the OEM disk was
designed to support.
But you still will want to talk to HP, as this would seem to be a very
common problem and there should (?) be a reasonable solution.

 

[pjp]

You got that right!

I'd have thought so, as well, but I have met several successful
programmers and software engineers who seemed to me to be woefully
ignorant of the way computers and operating systems actually work, beyond
the narrow scope of the application they're writing. I think some of the
higher-level programming languages have made things too easy for them.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The problem is an OEM key will not work with retail or MSDN Windows XP CD.
The hard drive should have nothing to do with it especially different drives
may be used in manufacturing depending the best price of the day.

 

[asfsd]

OK, but then, how do you account for the original problem:


My harddrive crashed a few days ago and I bought a new one. I tried to use
a
set of recovery CDs that I purchased from HP - but the first (of 7) CD
immediately gives an error saying that this "PC System is not supported".
I'm convinced I ordered the right CD set "

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The answer to yor question will come from HP once the OP follows up as
stated.

 

[Plato]

My harddrive crashed a few days ago and I bought a new one. I tried to use
a
set of recovery CDs that I purchased from HP - but the first (of 7) CD
immediately gives an error saying that this "PC System is not supported".
I'm convinced I ordered the right CD set "

When you buy a big brand name pc one feature is that you get to spend
twice the amount of time, twice the amount of money, twice the amount of
work, to do anything.

Save up front, pay later.