XP Home Product Key

E

Elliott

I purchased a PC from Sony that had Windows XP Home
edition installed. My hard drive recently crashed before
I could get all of the data off (about 70% completed). I
would like to start over with the new hard drive,
installing the operating system from scratch. The issue:
I did not receive any install CD's with the computer but
I do have the Windows XP product key (attached to the
desktop tower). I have obtained a copy of the Windows XP
Home edition ISO but when I try to install, I get the
following error: "Product Key invalid". I'm thinking I
need a different version of XP Home but how do I know
which one and where can I get it? Any help would is
greatly appreciated.
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

Your Sony issued Product Key will only work with
Sony's prescribed Windows XP recovery method. It
will not work with any other Windows XP CD.

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

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

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


| I purchased a PC from Sony that had Windows XP Home
| edition installed. My hard drive recently crashed before
| I could get all of the data off (about 70% completed). I
| would like to start over with the new hard drive,
| installing the operating system from scratch. The issue:
| I did not receive any install CD's with the computer but
| I do have the Windows XP product key (attached to the
| desktop tower). I have obtained a copy of the Windows XP
| Home edition ISO but when I try to install, I get the
| following error: "Product Key invalid". I'm thinking I
| need a different version of XP Home but how do I know
| which one and where can I get it? Any help would is
| greatly appreciated.
|
 
T

Tim Newton [MSFT]

Hello Elliot,

The product ID's for retail and OEM versions of Windows are different, so
you need an OEM version on disk to install it from. You would need to
contact Sony to get this disk.

--
Tim Newton [MSFT]
(e-mail address removed)

Search our Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/directory
Visit the Windows 2000 Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp
See the Windows NT Homepage at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/

NOTE: Please reply to the newsgroup and not directly to me. This allows
others to add to and benefit from these threads and also helps to ensure a
more timely response. Thank you!

This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty either expressed or
implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The views and opinions
expressed in this newsgroup posting are mine and do not necessarily express
or reflect the views and / or opinions of Microsoft.
 
E

Elliott

Thanks for your assistance but what do I do now
considering the hard drive is trash and I have no way of
recovering?
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

Well, since you have no way to recover using Sony's
prescribed recovery method, you'll have to go out
and purchase a "Full Version" of Windows XP
and install it. Your Sony Product Key is no longer
of any use. It died along with your Sony hard drive.

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

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

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


| Thanks for your assistance but what do I do now
| considering the hard drive is trash and I have no way of
| recovering?
 
E

Elliott

Tim, thanks for the help.
-----Original Message-----
Hello Elliot,

The product ID's for retail and OEM versions of Windows are different, so
you need an OEM version on disk to install it from. You would need to
contact Sony to get this disk.

--
Tim Newton [MSFT]
(e-mail address removed)

Search our Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/directory
Visit the Windows 2000 Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp
See the Windows NT Homepage at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/

NOTE: Please reply to the newsgroup and not directly to me. This allows
others to add to and benefit from these threads and also helps to ensure a
more timely response. Thank you!

This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty either expressed or
implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The views and opinions
expressed in this newsgroup posting are mine and do not necessarily express
or reflect the views and / or opinions of Microsoft.



Elliott said:
I purchased a PC from Sony that had Windows XP Home
edition installed. My hard drive recently crashed before
I could get all of the data off (about 70% completed). I
would like to start over with the new hard drive,
installing the operating system from scratch. The issue:
I did not receive any install CD's with the computer but
I do have the Windows XP product key (attached to the
desktop tower). I have obtained a copy of the Windows XP
Home edition ISO but when I try to install, I get the
following error: "Product Key invalid". I'm thinking I
need a different version of XP Home but how do I know
which one and where can I get it? Any help would is
greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...


.
Click to expand...
 
G

Guest

LOL.......what a answer.. Absolute LIE..

" Your Sony Product Key is no longer
of any use. It died along with your Sony hard drive."

Some of your answers are crazy.
 
E

Elliott

Exactly! I called Sony and although I don't agree with
this, I can purchase the recovery and application CD's
for $22.00 and $7.00 shipping. Live and learn.
 
G

Guest

Cause he wanted you to post this stupid answer!!

LOL.......what a answer.. Absolute LIE..

" Your Sony Product Key is no longer
of any use. It died along with your Sony hard drive."

Some of your answers are crazy.
 
A

Alex Nichol

Elliott said:
I purchased a PC from Sony that had Windows XP Home
edition installed. My hard drive recently crashed before
I could get all of the data off (about 70% completed). I
would like to start over with the new hard drive,
installing the operating system from scratch. The issue:
I did not receive any install CD's with the computer but
I do have the Windows XP product key (attached to the
desktop tower). I have obtained a copy of the Windows XP
Home edition ISO but when I try to install, I get the
following error: "Product Key invalid".
Click to expand...

The one installed by Sony was a version from a series that uses a
different set of product keys from a regular home edition. You need the
appropriate CD. Sony ought to have provided recovery CDs with the
machine - they will reinstall onto a new hard drive perfectly well. If
you did *not* get these CDs ask the vendor
 
M

Martin S.

The one you have is the OEM version, this is what you need. If you have a
friend with the OEM XP Home CD you can use your friends CD and your product
key.
 

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