XP Pro SP2 Product Key Invalid, Why?

[Webmaker]

I am currently trying to install a copy of windows onto my Macbook. The copy
of XP SP1 installed fine but the SP2 upgrade CD doesn't work and none of the
mac drivers can be installed until it is running on SP2.

I searched through my Microsoft Action Pack but cannot find any copies of
Windows XP with SP2 just the separate upgrade CDs, and these seem to crash on
the installer when I try them. So I have brought over my personal copy of Win
XP with SP2 from home but on entering the product keys that come with the
work copies of Windows XP Pro (original) or Windows XP Pro with SP1 I am
receiving the invalid product key error.

Should I be able to install Windows XP with SP2 using a Windows XP with SP1
product key? If not how can I obtain a product key that will work with out
purchasing a new one (given that I have loads of XP and SP1 keys that are
currently unused)

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I am currently trying to install a copy of windows onto my Macbook.
The copy of XP SP1 installed fine but the SP2 upgrade CD doesn't
work and none of the mac drivers can be installed until it is
running on SP2.

I searched through my Microsoft Action Pack but cannot find any
copies of Windows XP with SP2 just the separate upgrade CDs, and
these seem to crash on the installer when I try them. So I have
brought over my personal copy of Win XP with SP2 from home but on
entering the product keys that come with the work copies of Windows
XP Pro (original) or Windows XP Pro with SP1 I am receiving the
invalid product key error.

Should I be able to install Windows XP with SP2 using a Windows XP
with SP1 product key? If not how can I obtain a product key that
will work with out purchasing a new one (given that I have loads of
XP and SP1 keys that are currently unused)

Are these OEM copies? (Came with machines...)

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Pick one:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...c.windowsxp.general&q=product+key+invalid+mvp

 

[DL]

You can slipstream sp2 into a winxp installation cd that you burn
The key is unique to the specific version/sp level used

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You must use Windows XP SP2 with Boot Camp. SP1 will not install correctly.
You cannot use an upgrade edition of XP to do a clean install because Mac
optical drives do not have a button to eject a cd and the Eject key on the
Mac keyboard will not be enabled in Windows until AFTER XP is installed AND
the Mac Drivers For Windows are installed. There is no way to swap cd's
during Setup so that a previous version of Windows can be verified.

You can install XP SP2, however, by first making a slipstreamed SP2 cd from
whatever original cd you have and a downloaded SP2 package using
AutoStreamer or nLite. Google on those for free software and detailed
instructions.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The key is for the edition and whether retail or OEM but NOT the service
pack level.