Installation Key

  • Thread starter Thread starter JimHeavey
  • Start date Start date
J

JimHeavey

I decided to re-install XP pro on my daughter's portable. I wiped out the
hard drive and started a complete new install. When I get to the point where
it request the installation key and I enter it, it always comes back and tell
me the installation key is invalid. I have check and rechecked and I am
keying it in correctly. I was guessing that there might be some sort of
hardware problem, but what show up on the screen does match the key required,
so I can not imagine what the problem might be. I have a MSDN subscription
and even the key I retrieved from this site says it is an invalid key. I'm
not sure where to go from here.
 
Did you try the telephone activation.With MSDN subscription and even having the key
if you exceed 10 installs with activation as is allowed to you then you will always
encounter this issue
 
You are speaking of "activation". The machine is not connected to anything
and it would not recognize if the key had been used or not used. The key
entered is failing a check sum key at the local level and it is indicating
that the key itself is invalid and would never have been valid....
 
You are speaking of "activation".  The machine is not connected to anything
and it would not recognize if the key had been used or not used.  The key
entered is failing a check sum key at the local level and it is indicating
that the key itself is invalid and would never have been valid....
Click to expand...

You have mixed up the XP CD key type. XP CD keys are "coded" to
respond to the version of the install CD. You can not install XP OEM
CD key (most probably the version shipped with the laptop) when
reformatted the drive with the different version of the installed CD.

Retail keys needs a retail CD
OEM keys needs to original OEM CD delivered with the key
Volume License keys (large company installs for greater that 5 XP at
one time) requires the special VL version of the install CD

MSDN keys are also unique and you must use the MSDN version of the XP
install CD.


Also, you will need use the correct version of the CD. You can not
use XP Pro install CD to re-install XP Home.
 
JimHeavey said:
I decided to re-install XP pro on my daughter's portable. I wiped
out the hard drive and started a complete new install. When I get
to the point where it request the installation key and I enter it,
it always comes back and tell me the installation key is invalid.
I have check and rechecked and I am keying it in correctly. I was
guessing that there might be some sort of hardware problem, but
what show up on the screen does match the key required, so I can
not imagine what the problem might be. I have a MSDN subscription
and even the key I retrieved from this site says it is an invalid
key. I'm not sure where to go from here.
Click to expand...

An MSDN product key will not work with media other than MSDN media.
A Retail product key will not work with media other than Retail media.
An OEM product key will not work with media other than OEM media.

When you picked up the CD to do the installation on your daughter's
laptop/portable - was it the same type of media (CD) as the product key for
your daughter's laptop/portable?

Given the information - I would bet the daughter's laptop/portable came with
Windows XP installed - meaning an OEM copy is more than likely (99+%
chance.) If you utilized a CD other than an OEM CD - the product key that
is likely on a sticker on your daughter's laptop/portable is not going to
work (unless you modified the SETUPP.INI and burned a new copy of the CD to
use appropriately.)

Please give more detail. ;-)
 
I am not using an XP OEM.

I have downloaded XP Pro from the MSDN site...
I attempted to install the installation software downloaded from the MSDN
site with the MSDN key.
Then machine tells me that my product key is invalid.
I have tried this with XP Pro (original), XP Pro Service Pack 2, XP Pro
Service Pack 3 - all tell me the product key is invalid.
 
I am not using an XP OEM.

I have downloaded XP Pro from the MSDN site...
I attempted to install the installation software downloaded from the MSDN
site with the MSDN key.
Then machine tells me that my product key is invalid.
I have tried this with XP Pro (original), XP Pro Service Pack 2, XP Pro
Service Pack 3 - all tell me the product key is invalid.
Click to expand...

I have encountered some keys (printed by Microsoft) that were
confusing:

Sometimes, the

B looked like 8
5 " " S
O " " 0
l " " 1

and vise versa.


Also, Microsoft seems to have a tendency of adding CD keys to their
"banned" list.
 
My daughters machine came with XP Home which I immediately upgraded to xp Pro.

Prior to wiping out the hard drive and rebuilding the machine, I ran a
utility that I found on the web which provides you with the Product Key
(KeyFinder http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/ ).

Using XP pro installation CD, I install using the key returned to me with
KeyFinder and I get an invalid key.

Downloading XP Pro from MSDN, serveral different versions (Original, Service
Pack 2, Service Pack 3) and any one of the keys which MS provides with my
subscription to MSDN, I get an invalid Product key.

I have not mis-keyed the value, I have checked, recheck and then rechecked
again - all provide the same error message - Invalid Product Key.
 
JimHeavey said:
My daughters machine came with XP Home which I immediately upgraded
to xp Pro.

Prior to wiping out the hard drive and rebuilding the machine, I
ran a utility that I found on the web which provides you with the
Product Key (KeyFinder http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/ ).

Using XP pro installation CD, I install using the key returned to
me with KeyFinder and I get an invalid key.

Downloading XP Pro from MSDN, serveral different versions
(Original, Service Pack 2, Service Pack 3) and any one of the keys
which MS provides with my subscription to MSDN, I get an invalid
Product key.

I have not mis-keyed the value, I have checked, recheck and then
rechecked again - all provide the same error message - Invalid
Product Key.
Click to expand...

When you upgraded your daughter's computer to Windows XP Professional - what
media did you use?

Retail?
Retail Upgrade?
(Those are your two choices if you actually performed an upgrade
installation.)

As for your MSDN CD problem - test to see if the machine is causing the
trouble - or if you have something else to look at - use the ISO download to
install on a Virtual machine (like a VirtualBox machine) with your MSDN key.
If it works - then there is a problem with the machine.

I assume you are downloading:
Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3 (x86) - CD (English)
File Name:
en_windows_xp_professional_with_service_pack_3_x86_cd_x14-80428.iso

Have you tried clicking on "Get another Key" and trying a different key?
(Yes - I have an MSDN subscription.)

Why did you upgrade it to professional in the first place?
Did it need to join a domain?
Using EFS?
Remote Desktop to it? (I'd have just put TeamViewer on it. heh)
 
It took 9 MSDN keys before I found one which would work, but It successfully
installed. I tried the Virtual Machine you suggested, and that was a very
nice suggestion. Thanks
 
You have mixed up the XP CD key type.  XP CD keys are "coded" to
respond to the version of the install CD.  You can not install XP OEM
CD key (most probably the version shipped with the laptop) when
reformatted the drive with the different version of the installed CD.

Retail keys needs a retail CD
OEM keys needs to original OEM CD delivered with the key
Volume License keys (large company installs for greater that 5 XP at
one time) requires the special VL version of the install CD

MSDN keys are also unique and you must use the MSDN version of the XP
install CD.

Also, you will need use the correct version of the CD.  You can not
use XP Pro install CD to re-install XP Home.
Click to expand...

please i lost my operating sys. so i used the 2 disc for my backup xp.
it says unable to create partition. whats wrong?
 
<snipped unrelated hijacked posting>
please i lost my operating sys. so i used the 2 disc for my backup
xp. it says unable to create partition. whats wrong?
Click to expand...

Please - explain *your* problem in as much detail as possible. Give exact
messages - not interpretations. Give exact operating systems and versions
and service pack levels (copied from the CD labels if necessary.) Do not
give out product keys, etc.

What are you trying to do, why are you trying to do it, what are the exact
things you are seeing?

You are telling a story here - we cannot see what you see unless it is told
in a very complete manner.
 
I ran into this some years ago, and it resurfaces occasionally.
The final solution is to call MSDN support with your subscription # in hand,
as well as the failing key.
In my case, they issued a new key. In addition to that, there are keys
that produce specific registry strings that are intended for use by certain
mfrs support groups.

OEM systems can have a seemingly strange situation, in that the OEM
installed and running copy has a different key than that on the "genuine"
sticker. If you are going to reinstall, it's a good idea to write down
both, so that they are available.
(Sometimes one or the other key will not work.) One laptop/"netbook" Mfr I
know of has a CD set that detects the Key from the on disk recovery
partition (if present) and uses it. If the partition is not present, a
second CD is used to create it, and assign a "generic" key. All this is
needed because the mfrs on system recovery software was crippled in later
versions.
 
<snip>
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...deployment/browse_frm/thread/9365dfc0504e69df


I ran into this some years ago, and it resurfaces occasionally.
The final solution is to call MSDN support with your subscription #
in hand, as well as the failing key.
In my case, they issued a new key. In addition to that, there are
keys that produce specific registry strings that are intended for
use by certain mfrs support groups.
Click to expand...
<snip>

No need to call - you can just get a new key (you literally click on those
words when logged into your MSDN subscription) until you get one that works.
In this conversation - that is what seemed to have worked for the OP.
 
SVLWinwick said:
Hello Jim

Take a look at this article:

Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing Windows XP

Updated: April 20, 2005 By Stephanie Ybarra

You can find it on Microsoft TechNET by following this link:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457096.aspx
Click to expand...
That article only applies to OEM media, his problem is with MSDN media
so I doubt it will help. But if he does still have or can get OEM
media, it would certainly be worth a shot.
 
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