Problem with XP Pro serial

[Guest]

Hi there,
I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro L10. This laptop ships with a Toshiba system
recovery dics. Since my system was running slow lately i decided to
re-install windows.

Unfortunately, the disc contains an image that is copied to my hard drive.
In stead of a 'clean' XP system i get all the pre-installed software too!
That doesn't really help me since i want to keep my systeem clean.
Therefore i decided to use a regular (downloaded) Windows XP Pro SP-2 disc
and typed in the serial that was on the back of my laptop (genuine serial).
The problem now is that this disc won't expect my serial!? Weird isnt it

So i then decided to install the toshiba image once more and obtained the
serial used by toshiba using the keyfinder.exe (advised in earlier posts).
After that I again installed the regular XP and typed in the toshiba serial.
That didnt work either

The last option i tried was to use my Dell OEM XP Pro SP-2 disc i have for
my other (dell) notebook. I successfully installed it now but it never asked
me for a serial. After the installation, windows gives a pop-up asking to
activate within 30 days. When i try to activate with of the two serials (1st
from back of my laptop, 2nd from toshiba image) it says: "invalid key"

What do you guys suggest i should do in order to get a proper windows
installation? thanks!

 

[DL]

Weird? not really as there is no official download of winxp
An OEM version of win, particularly supplied by a large vendor is tied to
the specific sys

 

[pjp]

It's screwing you around by design. MS's way of trying to stop people using
a product they bought in any "other" way than what MS dictates.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi there,
I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro L10. This laptop ships with a Toshiba system
recovery dics. Since my system was running slow lately i decided to
re-install windows.

Not likely to have been at all necessary, but it's your call.

Unfortunately, the disc contains an image that is copied to my hard drive.
In stead of a 'clean' XP system i get all the pre-installed software too!
That doesn't really help me since i want to keep my systeem clean.
Therefore i decided to use a regular (downloaded) Windows XP Pro SP-2 disc
and typed in the serial that was on the back of my laptop (genuine serial).
The problem now is that this disc won't expect my serial!? Weird isnt it

No, it isn't "weird," at all. It's perfectly normal, in fact.

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 won't work for any
retail version of WinXP Home, 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.

So i then decided to install the toshiba image once more and obtained the
serial used by toshiba using the keyfinder.exe (advised in earlier posts).
After that I again installed the regular XP and typed in the toshiba serial.
That didnt work either

No, it wouldn't have, and for the same reason.

The last option i tried was to use my Dell OEM XP Pro SP-2 disc i have for
my other (dell) notebook. I successfully installed it now but it never asked
me for a serial. After the installation, windows gives a pop-up asking to
activate within 30 days. When i try to activate with of the two serials (1st
from back of my laptop, 2nd from toshiba image) it says: "invalid key"

That would be because that Dell OEM license is *permanently bound to
the Dell computer with which it was purchased, and cannot legitimately
be transferred to any other computer.

What do you guys suggest i should do in order to get a proper windows
installation? thanks!

Use the Recovery CD provided by the computer manufacturer along with
the OEM Product Key affixed to the computer. Then simply use the Contol
Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet to remove any extra OEM "features"
that you don't want.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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

 

[Guest]

Thanks for al your input. You are right and i agree it is actually makes
sense that my key is not working on different versions of WinXP Pro.
But i do not agree with the last contributor saying i just have to use
whatever my pc-manufacture supplied. I paid for a MS windows license.

Installing the recoverey image gives me all sorts of programs (norton
version OLD, nero version OLD, MSN messenger version OLD) Removing them and
installing new ones will only slow my pc down.

Therefore i hope someone has any other idea on how to tackle this.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro L10. This laptop ships with a
Toshiba system recovery dics. Since my system was running slow
lately i decided to re-install windows.

Unfortunately, the disc contains an image that is copied to my hard
drive. In stead of a 'clean' XP system i get all the pre-installed
software too! That doesn't really help me since i want to keep my
systeem clean. Therefore i decided to use a regular (downloaded)
Windows XP Pro SP-2 disc and typed in the serial that was on the
back of my laptop (genuine serial). The problem now is that this
disc won't expect my serial!? Weird isnt it

So i then decided to install the toshiba image once more and
obtained the serial used by toshiba using the keyfinder.exe
(advised in earlier posts). After that I again installed the
regular XP and typed in the toshiba serial. That didnt work either

The last option i tried was to use my Dell OEM XP Pro SP-2 disc i
have for my other (dell) notebook. I successfully installed it now
but it never asked me for a serial. After the installation, windows
gives a pop-up asking to activate within 30 days. When i try to
activate with of the two serials (1st from back of my laptop, 2nd
from toshiba image) it says: "invalid key"

What do you guys suggest i should do in order to get a proper
windows installation?

Thanks for al your input. You are right and i agree it is actually
makes sense that my key is not working on different versions of
WinXP Pro.

But i do not agree with the last contributor saying i just have to
use whatever my pc-manufacture supplied. I paid for a MS windows
license.

Installing the recoverey image gives me all sorts of programs
(norton version OLD, nero version OLD, MSN messenger version OLD)
Removing them and installing new ones will only slow my pc down.

Therefore i hope someone has any other idea on how to tackle this.

Tried a generic OEM CD with the product key off the sticker on the laptop?
(Generic meaning it was sold by itself - not with a PC/laptop - it has no
special configuration/unattended stuff on it, etc.)

Secondly - since you somehow got the Dell installation onto the laptop - did
you (1) change the product key to match that on the sticker on the laptop
and then (2) try to activate?

The Genuine Advantage Product Key Update Tool is only valid for
users attempting to change their current non-genuine Product Key
to a genuine COA sticker or genuine Product Key - all without a reinstall!
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409

If that doesn't work - remember - it is Toshiba who screwed you in the end -
you should contact them and demand they send you an actual Windows XP
installation CD - since you did pay for a license of Windows XP OEM (which
means Toshiba is the OS support for it) when you purchased the laptop.
Agree or not now - you agreed when you originally bought it - you just
didn't know it yet. ;-)

 

[Guest]

Thanks Shenan for this new input. Usually people only repeat one another as
soon as the first few have replied. Great!

First of all you are absolutely right about whom is to blame for this
situation. Unfortunately it is probably easier to try to find a XP disc that
accepts my serial than to pursue toshiba to send me a blank OEM version.

1) I did manage to install xp on my toshiba using the Dell OEM. I read on
this forum that the new Dell OEM discs are no longer protected. They just
dont accept other keys apparently.
2) Using this small program called keyfinder.exe i tried to change my key
into my original key of the back off my laptop. that didnt work.
3) I also tried to use the program that was in the link you provided. the
program completes with the warning that activation wasnt possible. reboot is
required to activate manually. in other words... same problem.

Thanks a lot for you ideas and if someone comes up with something new... let
me know!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Thanks for al your input. You are right and i agree it is actually makes
sense that my key is not working on different versions of WinXP Pro.
But i do not agree with the last contributor saying i just have to use
whatever my pc-manufacture supplied. I paid for a MS windows license.

No, you paid for a license to use Toshiba's customized OEM version;
nothing else.

Installing the recoverey image gives me all sorts of programs (norton
version OLD, nero version OLD, MSN messenger version OLD) Removing them and
installing new ones will only slow my pc down.

How so? Where'd you get that idea? Anyway, it's not true, but it will
be time consuming.

Therefore i hope someone has any other idea on how to tackle this.

You have only two other options: You can buy a full retail license, and
use it to perform a clean installation, or you can try to obtain an
unbranded, generic OEM installation CD and see if it works with your OEM
Product Key. (It should, but there're no guarantees.)


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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