Product Key

[Guest]

I have a valid product key for an emachine I bought. I am re-loading Windows
XP on this machine but the product key will not work. (Yes I triple checked
and had someone else verify that I did it correctly)

Are the product keys generic enough to work on any load of Windows XP?

How do I fix this problem?

 

[Test Man]

No, you need the specific CD corresponding to the product key e.g. if it's a
Professional retail version product key, you need the Professional retail
CD.

 

[David B.]

The product key that shipped with your emachine is OEM, you are likely
trying to install from a retail XP CD, as you found out it won't work, you
need to use an OEM CD.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

The e-machine product key on the sticker is an OEM key, very likely for XP
Home version. You will need an OEM version of XP Home for the key to have
any chance of working. Retail versions of XP Home or any type of XP Pro
won't work with an OEM XP Home key. The good news is that if you can find an
OEM XP Home disc, and they should be very common, it is legal for you to
make a copy of the disc and use it with your product key.

 

[Daave]

I have a valid product key for an emachine I bought. I am re-loading
Windows
XP on this machine but the product key will not work. (Yes I triple
checked
and had someone else verify that I did it correctly)

Are the product keys generic enough to work on any load of Windows XP?

It's the other way around.

You need to find a *CD* that's generic enough to match the Product Key.
And that would be a generic OEM CD. A branded OEM CD probably won't
work. A retail CD (full or upgrade) won't work. You need a generic OEM
CD. Also, if it's an XP Home Product Key, you need an XP Home CD.

In the event you can't find this type of CD and you don't wish
(understandably) to purchase one, Emachines provided you with a means to
restore your PC to its original state (if the PC didn't come with disks,
you can probably access a hidden restore partition on your hard drive),
so you may want to contact them. Or if you provide us the model number,
perhaps we can help you.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a valid product key for an emachine I bought. I am re-loading Windows
XP on this machine but the product key will not work. (Yes I triple checked
and had someone else verify that I did it correctly)

Are you using the OEM installation CD provided by eMachines, or a
generic, unbranded OEM WinXP installation CD? If not, that's your answer.

Are the product keys generic enough to work on any load of Windows XP?

No. 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.

How do I fix this problem?

Obtain the installation CD from eMachines. Alternatively, you should
be able to use a generic, unbranded OEM WinXP CD in conjunction with
your Product Key.


--

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