XP Home upgrade & activation

[SCB]

My upgrade from 98 to XP Home didn't go well. Instead I
cleaned the disk, and installed XP fresh. The XP product
key is for the upgrade, not a fresh install.
How can I use my upgrade key, along with my 98 OEM key
(Dell) to activate my XP?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

It is not the process as much as the CD.
You are using an upgrade Windows XP CD to perform a Clean
Installation?
Use the Product Key that came with the Windows XP Upgrade CD.
There is nothing to it, insert the Windows XP Product Key when
requested.

 

[Guest]

Actually, I used the OEM (backup) CD intially. (I
couldn't find my Updgrade CD; I did find it eventually.)
Any problem with using the Key from the other PC? (where
the original OEM disk was installed)

Thanks for that prompt reply!

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The OEM is licensed only to the original computer and should not be
installed on a different computer.
Often it is not possible to install Windows XP OEM on the wrong
computer.