Re: XP Not Accepting Product Key

synthedic wrote:
I have just done a reinstall on a friends laptop. He couldnt
find his version of Windows XP so i thought i would just use
mine.The problem i have is that when it comes time to type in the
Product Key it wont accept the Key that is stuck to the bottom of
the laptop. The laptops XP sticker say Windows XP Professional 1 -
2 CPU and my version of XP is Professional so why wont it work.

Any help would be great

Shenan Stanley wrote:
The CDs come in types as well as versions. Your friend with the
laptop/sticker has an OEM licensed type. Obviously your CD is not
of that type - so the product key on your friend's sticker will not
work with your type of CD (I assume Retail, Upgrade, MSDN, etc...)

You can use your CD with keys meant for the same type, you can use
your friend's product key with CDs of the same type. You can
either install using whatever method the laptop manufacturer
originally gave your friend, using your product key and changing it
to your friend's product key afterwards, by finding a generic OEM
CD and using your friend's proper product key or by changing the
type of keys your CD will accept and burning a new copy and using
your friend's product key.

synthedic wrote:
Thanks Shenan Stanley for your reply it makes sense to me now.
Would it be a stupid question to ask if you can tell me how to
change my copy( which I believe is Retail XP Pro with service pack
2 ) to accept his product key. Would i be right in saying turn it
into an OEM version

You change the retail copy to a copy that will accept OEM product keys.
Google for "setupp.ini" - that is not a typo. I'll give you a head start:
http://www.thetechguide.com/howto/setuppini.html

or

You install the retail copy using your retail key and then you use the
Microsoft utility to change the product key to the one you have on t he
sticker. This utility from Microsoft...
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: How to change activation code from retail to OEM?
    ... CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are ... An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full ... I couldn't get the OEM CD to install the OS ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment)
  • Re: How to change activation code from retail to OEM?
    ... CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are ... An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full ... I couldn't get the OEM CD to install the OS ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Office key
    ... took up too much room in the laptop case when I was travelling). ... is still supported by Microsoft. ... The procedure is to first contact the OEM and request a new key. ... version of Office a replacement Product Key. ...
    (microsoft.public.office.misc)
  • Re: Repair Install
    ... The keys are not on the CD, but they are specific to the TYPE of media, meaning you cannot use an OEM key with retail media, if you try a repair install using your retail media with the OEM key from the Compaq, it will tell you the key is not valid. ... install cd I use as long as I key in the appropriate Product Key? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: OEM Quagmire
    ... One cannot use a "Retail Product Key" with an "OEM" CD ... Your friend can return his XP Pro version to Microsoft ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment)