Windows XP Home reinstallation

[Guest]

I am reinstalling Windows XP home on my laptop and it is rejecting the
product key I have. The original disk was damaged but I am using another
valid Windows XP Home disk, and I am attempting to use the product key that
came with the laptop. Any suggestions?

 

[Guest]

You don't understand what you purchased.

When you buy a 'pre-installed' version of windows xp, (and a hardware system
to run it), you are only buying a license for THAT hardware, and software.
OEM's (Other Equipment Manafacturers) buy a discounted version of XP's more
'universal' setup disk. It (the product key) only works with this limited
hardware platform.

It sounds to me like you have acquired a 'universal' setup disk, and are
trying to install it on a 'OEM' machine, (expecting, of course, the OEM
licence to extend to a unversal setup disk) Ain't gonna happen. You will have
to either acquire the specific setup for your OEM machine, or buy a product
key for a 'universal' setup disk.

Ah, 'killing the messenger' in this case ain't gonna work either. LOL.

 

[Guest]

Crud....oh well. Thanks anyway.

You don't understand what you purchased.

When you buy a 'pre-installed' version of windows xp, (and a hardware system
to run it), you are only buying a license for THAT hardware, and software.
OEM's (Other Equipment Manafacturers) buy a discounted version of XP's more
'universal' setup disk. It (the product key) only works with this limited
hardware platform.

It sounds to me like you have acquired a 'universal' setup disk, and are
trying to install it on a 'OEM' machine, (expecting, of course, the OEM
licence to extend to a unversal setup disk) Ain't gonna happen. You will have
to either acquire the specific setup for your OEM machine, or buy a product
key for a 'universal' setup disk.

Ah, 'killing the messenger' in this case ain't gonna work either. LOL.

 

[Daave]

I am reinstalling Windows XP home on my laptop and it is rejecting the
product key I have. The original disk was damaged but I am using
another valid Windows XP Home disk, and I am attempting to use the
product key that came with the laptop. Any suggestions?

You need to provide more information.

What is the make and model of your laptop?

Describe this other "valid Windows XP Home disk."

There is no need to purchase another license. First, I would contact the
laptop manufacturer to see if they can send you a replacement disk. Or
perhaps the installation/recovery data is on a hidden partition on your
laptop. You need to get this information from the manufacturer.

Assuming you can acquire a *generic* OEM XP installation disk, then your
product key should work just fine.

Finally, what are you trying to do... a repair install or a clean
install? Is a re-install even necessary? Often it's overkill as there
are far easier ways to deal with PC problems.

Even if you don't need to reinstall the OS, it's still a good idea to
get your replacement disk.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I am reinstalling Windows XP home on my laptop and it is rejecting the
product key I have. The original disk was damaged but I am using another
valid Windows XP Home disk, and I am attempting to use the product key that
came with the laptop. Any suggestions?

As you're using an OEM license's Product Key, you must also use an OEM
installation CD. Is that the case?

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.

You need to examine the Product Key very carefully. It's awfully
easy to mistake a "B" for an "8," a "G" for a "6," an "S" for a "5," or
a "Q" for a "0" or "O." Fortunately, Microsoft had the good sense to
leave the "1's," "I's," "O's," and "0's" out of the equation. Also, be
sure that your <CapsLock> is _off_ while entering the Product Key --
this isn't supposed to make a difference, but I've seen it do so, on
rare occasions.

Troubleshooting Invalid CD Key Error Message During Windows XP Setup
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310637


--

Bruce Chambers

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