Product key hassles with Windows XP SP2

Hello

Had a Windows XP system with SP2 which was upgrade from Windows ME. I
decided to wipe everything, re-install then re-load XP. I actually did
format with an OEM XP SP2 CD. I found I could not use my Windows XP product
key with this CD. So I put the Windows XP Upgrade CD in the CD drive and
rebooted. I went through all the first screens then when get to product
key, enter product key that came with this upgrade purchase. But it says
invalid product key! It is not as if I am doing anything illegal and I am
just sorting out a trashed system. So what can I do?

Angus

You need to start over from scratch and only use the
Windows XP Upgrade CD and the Product Key that
came with it. You cannot begin the installation using
an OEM CD and then switch to the Upgrade CD.

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

=== Accessing Motherboard BIOS
=== http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. == Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
== http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.mspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...xp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Angus Comber" wrote:

| Hello
|
| Had a Windows XP system with SP2 which was upgrade from Windows ME. I
| decided to wipe everything, re-install then re-load XP. I actually did
| format with an OEM XP SP2 CD. I found I could not use my Windows XP product
| key with this CD. So I put the Windows XP Upgrade CD in the CD drive and
| rebooted. I went through all the first screens then when get to product
| key, enter product key that came with this upgrade purchase. But it says
| invalid product key! It is not as if I am doing anything illegal and I am
| just sorting out a trashed system. So what can I do?
|
| Angus

If you are using an "XP upgrade CD", then you must be prepared to prove that
you own a qualifying previous operating system. ME certainly qualifies, but
ME is not on the hard drive. Thus, you will need the ME CD. The XP
installer should ask you to place it into the CD tray for a brief moment.
If you do not have the ME CD that came with the computer, any 98 or ME CD
will do.


"Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote in message
...
You need to start over from scratch and only use the
Windows XP Upgrade CD and the Product Key that
came with it. You cannot begin the installation using
an OEM CD and then switch to the Upgrade CD.

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral
hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before
installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect
the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your
main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

=== Accessing Motherboard BIOS
=== http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the
existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the
primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. == Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
== http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.mspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support
website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the
following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...xp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Angus Comber" wrote:

| Hello
|
| Had a Windows XP system with SP2 which was upgrade from Windows ME. I
| decided to wipe everything, re-install then re-load XP. I actually did
| format with an OEM XP SP2 CD. I found I could not use my Windows XP
product
| key with this CD. So I put the Windows XP Upgrade CD in the CD drive
and
| rebooted. I went through all the first screens then when get to product
| key, enter product key that came with this upgrade purchase. But it
says
| invalid product key! It is not as if I am doing anything illegal and I
am
| just sorting out a trashed system. So what can I do?
|
| Angus