XP CD Installation

[Guest]

Hi there,

I have a windows XP Home CD, but aswell as that I have 4
pcs, all with XP, one of which had a completely new
install after a virus. That pc received the new serial
number with the XP Cd that I was forced to buy because my
pc provider wouldnt send one. Was well angry about that
but you live and learn!

anyway, now I'm trying to avoid the same result, by using
the XP CD, but instead using the Product Key that came
with the PC, but it repeatedly says that the Product Key
is invalid???

It will however, accept the key that came with the CD??

Are the CDs burned with their unique code installed and
will not accept any other product key? If so, whats the
point of even needing to enter a product key?

How can I make this work?

Can I use the CD to reinstall XP with my original product
key that came with the pc?

thanks in advance

 

[David Richardson]

As far as why your retail-in-box XP wouldn't take the product key
that came with your PC manufacturer, I don't know the exact answer,
but my GUT says it's the difference between OEM and retail packaging.

By the way, I think it's a crying shame that PC manufacturers don't provide
BOTH
1) a way to restore the system to its orginal, factory state (many
mfg'ers DO provide this ability)
AND
2) the ability to selectively install and re-install all the software
that you are licensed for. This means providing install CDs for each
and every application, and a bootable CD to install MS-Windows with.

By the way, my computer vendor was nice enough to not only
provide a recovery partition, he also mailed me a set of recovery
CDs when I asked for one.
Alas, I cannot individually install applications. Oh well.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The OEM Product Key assigned to your PC will only work
with an OEM CD. It will not work with a "retail version"
of Windows XP.

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

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

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


| Hi there,
|
| I have a windows XP Home CD, but aswell as that I have 4
| pcs, all with XP, one of which had a completely new
| install after a virus. That pc received the new serial
| number with the XP Cd that I was forced to buy because my
| pc provider wouldnt send one. Was well angry about that
| but you live and learn!
|
| anyway, now I'm trying to avoid the same result, by using
| the XP CD, but instead using the Product Key that came
| with the PC, but it repeatedly says that the Product Key
| is invalid???
|
| It will however, accept the key that came with the CD??
|
| Are the CDs burned with their unique code installed and
| will not accept any other product key? If so, whats the
| point of even needing to enter a product key?
|
| How can I make this work?
|
| Can I use the CD to reinstall XP with my original product
| key that came with the pc?
|
| thanks in advance
|

 

Hi there,

I have a windows XP Home CD, but aswell as that I have 4
pcs, all with XP, one of which had a completely new
install after a virus. That pc received the new serial
number with the XP Cd that I was forced to buy because my
pc provider wouldnt send one. Was well angry about that
but you live and learn!

anyway, now I'm trying to avoid the same result, by using
the XP CD, but instead using the Product Key that came
with the PC, but it repeatedly says that the Product Key
is invalid???

It will however, accept the key that came with the CD??

Are the CDs burned with their unique code installed and
will not accept any other product key? If so, whats the
point of even needing to enter a product key?

How can I make this work?

Can I use the CD to reinstall XP with my original product
key that came with the pc?

thanks in advance

CD Keys are unique to the type of Windows, whether Retail or OEM. In
your case, the CD Key on the side of the PC is OEM, the CD you bought is
Retail - the CD Keys are not interchangeable.