xp disk borrowed; won't accept COA from my computer.

[Laura]

Had microsoft automatic update mess up my system; got the whole logon
failure msgina.dll msg; tried to back to last good config; no dice. Brother
suggested I re install and gave me his CD; told me I could reinstall and
then enter my COA from tower; does not work; after spending time running
disk and reformat; it asks me to use disk and enter key code to finish setup
and told invalid key; this code is attached to computer; wired into back; so
nothing random; is there a generic key good usable to enter and finish
install or I am stuck with half baked system. Got system second hand; so no
disk was included and the ms4 003 got me before I had time to create a boot
disk.
anyone know how to get around this mess.
I already bought a brand new system; wanting to fix up and give to Mom; she
has dinosaur laptop running either 95 or 98 and I rather give to her then
trash.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Had microsoft automatic update mess up my system; got the whole
logon failure msgina.dll msg; tried to back to last good config; no
dice. Brother suggested I re install and gave me his CD; told me I
could reinstall and then enter my COA from tower; does not work;
after spending time running disk and reformat; it asks me to use
disk and enter key code to finish setup and told invalid key; this
code is attached to computer; wired into back; so nothing random;
is there a generic key good usable to enter and finish install or I
am stuck with half baked system. Got system second hand; so no
disk was included and the ms4 003 got me before I had time to
create a boot disk. anyone know how to get around this mess.
I already bought a brand new system; wanting to fix up and give to
Mom; she has dinosaur laptop running either 95 or 98 and I rather
give to her then trash.

Your installation media type must match your License type. If your COA is a
sticker on the machine - your installation media is likely OEM.

Sounds like the CD your brother loaned you does not match your license type.

In other words - you need a generic OEM licensed Windows XP (matching the
version as well - Home, Professional, Media Center, etc) installation media
(CD).

 

[DL]

It maybe that that your brothers disk is an OEM version which is tied to his
hardware and as such your key will not work
The other cd must be the exact same version as WinXP version installed on
your PC for the key to work