Product Key

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kat
  • Start date Start date
K

Kat

I have a valid "real" XP professtional disc, I checked
that website, and all the anti piracy features on my disc
are there. I am a student, and have the student edition
of XP Professional that I bought on campus. Whenever I
try to do Windows Updates, it tells me that my product
key is invalid. I would like to know if doing the repair
install will wipe the samved info from my computer. Do I
need to back anything up before doing it? Do I have to
repair install? How do I see what cd key is registered
to Microsoft? I may have accidentally typed in the wrong
key, made a typo, and this would really suck if I have to
reinstall due to pudgy fingers lol. Any help would be
appreciated.
 
Retrieve your Windows XP CD key
http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

If you are getting the following error message when attempting to update to SP1:

Error Message: The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326904&Product=winxp

You'll have to purchase a new "Full Version" of Windows XP Professional
and perform a "Repair Install" using the new Windows XP Pro CD and Product Key
that comes with it. (You cannot simply change the Product Key)

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Is Your Copy of Windows Legal?
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/windows/default.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

----------------------------------------------------------------------


|I have a valid "real" XP professtional disc, I checked
| that website, and all the anti piracy features on my disc
| are there. I am a student, and have the student edition
| of XP Professional that I bought on campus. Whenever I
| try to do Windows Updates, it tells me that my product
| key is invalid. I would like to know if doing the repair
| install will wipe the samved info from my computer. Do I
| need to back anything up before doing it? Do I have to
| repair install? How do I see what cd key is registered
| to Microsoft? I may have accidentally typed in the wrong
| key, made a typo, and this would really suck if I have to
| reinstall due to pudgy fingers lol. Any help would be
| appreciated.
 
Yes, my copy is legal, I just bought this software less
than a year ago, and I thought student versions were full
copies. My XP disc says it comes with SP1 and windows
update says I need SP1, then it gives me the invalid key
msg. BUT, do I need to backup my data, or will it all be
saved? I have your links for the process, but most of it
is greek to me, and I don't know if the repair install
will wipe my memory.
 
Your data should be safe back up any important data just in case
before performing a Repair Installation.

Go here:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
Near the bottom "View Product Key XP"
With that tool, you can verify you typed the key correctly.

If you typed the key correctly, does it fit this:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm
If it does, contact the seller and/or Microsoft.


--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


Yes, my copy is legal, I just bought this software less
than a year ago, and I thought student versions were full
copies. My XP disc says it comes with SP1 and windows
update says I need SP1, then it gives me the invalid key
msg. BUT, do I need to backup my data, or will it all be
saved? I have your links for the process, but most of it
is greek to me, and I don't know if the repair install
will wipe my memory.

-----Original Message-----
Retrieve your Windows XP CD key
http://michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.htm

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

If you are getting the following error message when attempting to update to SP1:

Error Message: The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en- us;326904&Product=winxp

You'll have to purchase a new "Full Version" of Windows XP Professional
and perform a "Repair Install" using the new Windows XP Pro CD and Product Key
that comes with it. (You cannot simply change the Product Key)

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Is Your Copy of Windows Legal?
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/windows/d efault.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------- -------------


|I have a valid "real" XP professtional disc, I checked
| that website, and all the anti piracy features on my disc
| are there. I am a student, and have the student edition
| of XP Professional that I bought on campus. Whenever I
| try to do Windows Updates, it tells me that my product
| key is invalid. I would like to know if doing the repair
| install will wipe the samved info from my computer. Do I
| need to back anything up before doing it? Do I have to
| repair install? How do I see what cd key is registered
| to Microsoft? I may have accidentally typed in the wrong
| key, made a typo, and this would really suck if I have to
| reinstall due to pudgy fingers lol. Any help would be
| appreciated.
.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Greetings --

If you are trying to install Service Pack 1a and getting the
following:

The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q326904

You need to purchase and use a _legitimate_ full retail copy of
WinXP Pro to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation,
using the new CD and Product Key.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

Remember, you should also report whomever sold/gave you the
pirated software to the pertinent law enforcement agencies; you've
been defrauded.


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
 
Back
Top