Service Pack 1 error

[Newbie Needing Help]

My dad installed XP on my laptop for school and said I
should make sure I get the updates done when I get back to
school b/c of the high speed interent access. So I was
trying to install service pack 1 and gives this error ."
The Product key used to install windows is invaild please
contact your adminsitrator or reatiler immediatly to
obtain a vaild product key."

I asked my dad and he said that the key was vaild so I am
asking here what should I do? Cant call microsoft b/c I
dont have the extra cash too. Students dont have extra
crash. Know what i mean.

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

It would appear you dad installed a stolen copy of Windows XP Pro.
Check this to verify:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


"Newbie Needing Help" > wrote in
message ...
> My dad installed XP on my laptop for school and said I
> should make sure I get the updates done when I get back to
> school b/c of the high speed interent access. So I was
> trying to install service pack 1 and gives this error ."
> The Product key used to install windows is invaild please
> contact your adminsitrator or reatiler immediatly to
> obtain a vaild product key."
>
> I asked my dad and he said that the key was vaild so I am
> asking here what should I do? Cant call microsoft b/c I
> dont have the extra cash too. Students dont have extra
> crash. Know what i mean.

[JAX]

Your Dad probably installed XP from his disk, which had been activated. You
can only run XP on one machine, without buying a new license.

LOL, JAX

"Newbie Needing Help" > wrote in message
...
> My dad installed XP on my laptop for school and said I
> should make sure I get the updates done when I get back to
> school b/c of the high speed interent access. So I was
> trying to install service pack 1 and gives this error ."
> The Product key used to install windows is invaild please
> contact your adminsitrator or reatiler immediatly to
> obtain a vaild product key."
>
> I asked my dad and he said that the key was vaild so I am
> asking here what should I do? Cant call microsoft b/c I
> dont have the extra cash too. Students dont have extra
> crash. Know what i mean.

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Are you trying to install Service Pack 1a and getting the
following:

The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q326904

You need to purchase and use a _legitimate_ full retail copy of
WinXP Pro to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation,
using the new CD and Product Key. Fortunately, as a student, you
should be eligible to purchase an Academic license for WinXP, which is
a lot less expensive than the full retail price.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

Remember, you should also report whomever sold your father the
pirated software to the pertinent law enforcement agencies; he's been
defrauded.


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


"Newbie Needing Help" > wrote in
message ...
> My dad installed XP on my laptop for school and said I
> should make sure I get the updates done when I get back to
> school b/c of the high speed interent access. So I was
> trying to install service pack 1 and gives this error ."
> The Product key used to install windows is invaild please
> contact your adminsitrator or reatiler immediatly to
> obtain a vaild product key."
>
> I asked my dad and he said that the key was vaild so I am
> asking here what should I do? Cant call microsoft b/c I
> dont have the extra cash too. Students dont have extra
> crash. Know what i mean.

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

I don't think so, or there would have been an error during
activation, rather than while trying to install SP1.

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


"JAX" > wrote in message
...
> Your Dad probably installed XP from his disk, which had been
activated. You
> can only run XP on one machine, without buying a new license.
>
> LOL, JAX
>

[Harry Ohrn]

Interestingly enough a friend encountered this problem last night with a
legitimate retail version of XP Pro that he has installed and updated
successfully with on the exact same system, hardware et al just a few days
ago. He had installed XP Pro and then installed SP1a with no problem however
somewhere a long the line he infected his system with the Roper virus. He
decided to reformat and reinstall XP. When he went to install SP1a he
encountered the dreaded "Invalid key contact your system admin error." I
suggested he try deactivating and reactivating using his valid key once more
then rebooting. It did not help. He then decided to reinstall XP and this
time SP1a took. I don't know if this will help you as it is very labour
intensive and involves reinstalling everything from scratch.

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

"Newbie Needing Help" > wrote in message
...
> My dad installed XP on my laptop for school and said I
> should make sure I get the updates done when I get back to
> school b/c of the high speed interent access. So I was
> trying to install service pack 1 and gives this error ."
> The Product key used to install windows is invaild please
> contact your adminsitrator or reatiler immediatly to
> obtain a vaild product key."
>
> I asked my dad and he said that the key was vaild so I am
> asking here what should I do? Cant call microsoft b/c I
> dont have the extra cash too. Students dont have extra
> crash. Know what i mean.