Reinstal of windows XP

[Marilyn]

Our hard drive lost critical file and I had to reform and
perform a instal of windows xp.

I am stuck on the product key.
We have 2 computers and one came with XP oem installed
and the second we purchased XP.

I use the product code that we purchased and it says it
is an invalid code but it is clearly printed on the back
of the manual and I also had copied it onto the disk.

I even got ahold of a different product windows xp code
and it will not work either?

What is wrong here?

 

[Guest]

The keys are not interchangable between a OEM and Retail.
The keys are diffrent. So you have to use the correct key.
you can find out the one that is installed with a key
finder.