XP installation

[Guest]

We recently had to reformat our hard drive, bu when we use the recovery disk
to reinstall our xp OS, it installs with no problem, but when we try and call
the number to activate it, it says the product key thingy is invalid, and to
return it to our retailer, but we cant return a recovery disk, so what can we
do? Im having to post this at school because we dont have internet at the
house so we cant activate it online either....
please help!

 

[Guest]

You can always activate it by calling Microsoft. Also, who did you purchase
your computer or version of Windows from? Dell? If so you can always
contact them for a valid product key.