Product key not working

[WillyTheWiz]

I had to format the hard drire on my laptop. I reinstalled windows xp
professional on it after i enter the 15 digit product key that is located on
the sticker on the laptop it tells me that it is not valid. what do I have
to do get this corrected to use my laptop again?

Thank you.

 

[MedRxMan]

I thought the product key was 25 digits not 15?? Typo maybe ?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I had to format the hard drire on my laptop. I reinstalled windows xp
professional on it after i enter the 15 digit product key that is located on
the sticker on the laptop it tells me that it is not valid.

That's because a Product Key is *25* characters, not 15. Try entering
the entire code.



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Bruce Chambers

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[WillyTheWiz]

It was a typo sorry it is 25 digits

 

[Malke]

It was a typo sorry it is 25 digits

Are you installing with the installation CD that came with the laptop? If
you are trying to install using anything but that or a generic OEM XP disk
(IOW the XP Pro is a retail copy or belongs to a different computer like a
Dell), then this will not work with the Product Key on the bottom of your
laptop.

Malke

 

[Lil' Dave]

Maybe not appropriate, nevertheless, I'll input. One generic OEM version
product code sticker on a PC that I own seems okay. No smears, tears, etc.
on it. Double-checked with magnifying glass. Yet, when I input that exact
product ID code, won't work. Trial and error of possible alpha-numeric
characters that could be easily mistake one for another, found 2 culprits.
Glad it was only 2. I wrote the actual/workable product ID code on a 3 ring
binder where I keep other critical written things as well.

 

[Elmo]

It was a typo sorry it is 25 digits

If the key is for an OEM version of XP and you used a retail version of
XP for the install, that won't work. There are other combinations, such
as XP Pro with an XP Home CD.. they won't fly either.

 

[HeyBub]

I had to format the hard drire on my laptop. I reinstalled windows xp
professional on it after i enter the 15 digit product key that is
located on the sticker on the laptop it tells me that it is not
valid. what do I have to do get this corrected to use my laptop
again?

Let me rephrase what others have said:

In many cases you must use installation media that match the key. That is,
if you have a DELL laptop and intend to use the key plastered on the bottom
of the computer, you must use the DELL distribution that came with the
laptop. A retail version of the OS or a generic OEM CD installation media
won't work with a DELL key.

In many cases, the installation "media" for a laptop is really a hidden
partition on the laptop's hard drive. If you formatted the entire hard drive
you are - pardon the technical jargon - screwed. You'll have to deal with
the laptop's manufacturer to get replacement media. Here's why:

A retail or generic OEM version may not work, even with the correct key,
because of drivers unique to the laptop.