Problem with XP Product ID acceptance

[Lugia]

I recently lost the hard disk on my notebook which had win'98 installed. I
ordered a replacement disk with the XP-Pro image and went and purchased an
upgrade license to XP-Pro. The 25 digit code is not accepted. What could
be the problem? Is it that the 25 digit ID is related to the version of
XP-Pro? What I mean by this is that the license that I've received and the
disk are for XP-Pro with SP1. Now if the image is for the first release is
it possible then that the 25 digit code is unique for the original release
and the SP1 release? Does anyone know if that is the case? TIA Lugia

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

What is the source of the disk?
What is the source of the Product Key?
There are many different varieties and the different keys and CDs are
not interchangeable.
Full & Upgrade
Home & Pro
Retail & OEM
Volume License etc.

 

[Lugia]

Yep, that's probably the problem. The image is from a distributor so more
than likely it is an OEM image from around early 2002 when th notebook was
first released. The license is an XP-Pro upgrade with CD-ROM media up to
and including SP1 purchased last week. More than likely this is the
mismatch. I was trying to avoid chasing up XP-Drivers for the notebook.
Thanks for the information. Lugia

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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. Product Keys and CDs cannot be mixed & matched.

It's an anti-theft mechanism, to ensure that you have a valid
license. It's based upon the rather obvious reasoning that a valid
licenser purchaser/owner would, of course, have both the installation
CD and the matching Product Key in his/her possession, as they
originally came together and there'd be no legitimate reason to
deliberately separate them.

Bruce Chambers

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