won't accept cd keys

[Peter Studt]

My computer came with the cd key on a microsoft sticker on the side of the
computer. I reformated the hard disk and installed xp, but during setup it
says that the cd key is invalid. I called Microsoft and they gave me
another cd key, and that will not work. I finally used the cd key off of
another computer I own, but now I am running two computers with the same
Windows XP cd key.

The only thing I can think of is that I am not using the system restore disk
that came with my computer to re-install windows xp. Maybe the cd key that
came with the computer needs the restore disk copy of windows xp. I don't
know.

Thanks,

Peter

[Spinner]

"Peter Studt" > wrote in message
...
> My computer came with the cd key on a microsoft sticker on the side of the
> computer. I reformated the hard disk and installed xp, but during setup
it
> says that the cd key is invalid. I called Microsoft and they gave me
> another cd key, and that will not work. I finally used the cd key off of
> another computer I own, but now I am running two computers with the same
> Windows XP cd key.
>
> The only thing I can think of is that I am not using the system restore
disk
> that came with my computer to re-install windows xp. Maybe the cd key
that
> came with the computer needs the restore disk copy of windows xp. I don't
> know.
>

What are you using to install?
If your system came with a restore disk it is most likely the OEM version.
If your trying to install from a retail disk and use the OEM number, that
will not work.


> Thanks,
>
> Peter
>
>

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

That's correct. The OEM Product Key affixed to the side of the PC
should work only with the OEM CD provided along with the PC, and no
other (well, except maybe for another similar CD from the same
manufacturer).

Product Keys are bound to the specific type of CD/license (OEM,
Volume, retail, full, or upgrade) with which they are purchased. For
example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail
version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice
versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full version
CD, and vice versa. They cannot be mixed & matched.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Peter Studt" > wrote in message
...
> My computer came with the cd key on a microsoft sticker on the side
of the
> computer. I reformated the hard disk and installed xp, but during
setup it
> says that the cd key is invalid. I called Microsoft and they gave
me
> another cd key, and that will not work. I finally used the cd key
off of
> another computer I own, but now I am running two computers with the
same
> Windows XP cd key.
>
> The only thing I can think of is that I am not using the system
restore disk
> that came with my computer to re-install windows xp. Maybe the cd
key that
> came with the computer needs the restore disk copy of windows xp. I
don't
> know.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Peter
>
>