XP key woe

[Joe]

Dad's pc had slowed to a crawl so I decided to format it and put on a fresh XP install, something I've done in the past with no problems!

He had lost (or was never given) an XP disk but there was legitimate key on a sticker on the computer. So I downloaded XP Home, burnt it onto disk and installed from there.

But it gives me an invalid key message when I enter the key from the sticker

I was under the impression that if you have a key, you own the liscense and that you can validate Windows this way?

Have I killed his computer? I have under 30 days to sort it out! Any ideas?

 

[ACW]

phone or go to the microsoft website and tell them what you have done, they may give you an alternative key to get it to work but it will cost

 

[accountantpete]

You may be able to get a recovery disc from the Manufacturer (again at cost - £25 or so) which will allow the restoration of the original software.

 

[rh100]

Must be a mismatch between the key and the software you downloaded. It is a REALLY BAD idea to download an OS like XP, you just don't know what you are getting. i would either ask around friends/colleagues for a disk if you have a genuine key sticker and start again. Or buy an OEM copy from somewhere like ebuyer, it will cost a few quid but at least it isn't iffy.

Microsoft will stop a key activating more than once (usually), but can be unlocked over the phone. Who is the PC made by? Accountantpete's suggestion is a good one.

 

[Joe]

Cheers guys. The PC is a Packard Bell but I'm reluctant to pay anything towards another licence when the computer (which hasn't changed) came with one.

I've been reading and I believe the issue is that I installed the XP Home Retail edition but the key is for XP Home OEM. Does this sound plausible?
There seems to be a way around this - a repair install using an OEM disk will supposedly convert it from retail so that it will accept the OEM key. Anyone tried it?

I'm about 300 miles away and won't be there within the next 30 days so my options are limited. Could possibly explain a repair install over the phone...maybe...what a nightmare!

 

[chris667]

I think the problem is most likely to be from the CD image you downloaded; RH100 is spot on, you cannot possibly trust it. Just find a legitimate Windows XP home CD, and use that to reinstall the OS. If you can't type your key in, phone Microsoft. It will be totally painless.

You might sort it out fiddling around with something else, but do it right and it will work and be easy.

 

[2Loose]

Most Packard Bell's have a recovery partition which secretly holds a copy of their installation media, rather than give you the actual disk.

Questions are, does yours have one, if so, how do you get at it?
If not, I am with AccountPete, speak to the manufacturer and get a copy of the media as it shouldn't cost anywhere near the amount that a new licence will.

Also, as for keys not matching disks, we have so many legit copies of XP here at work, but I often have to try 3 or 4 different keys before it matches the actual CD that I am using, kind of like (for example) a door key matching 1 in 10 locks.

 

[Dilbert]

I've been reading and I believe the issue is that I installed the XP Home Retail edition but the key is for XP Home OEM. Does this sound plausible?

Yes. The OEM version is only licensed to the machine in the condition you buy it, and the EULA is void if any components are changed, while the Retail version can be used on any PC. However if you can get a copy of the OEM version on a disc that should work. Where are you?

 

[fossyant]

I couldn't possibly recommend searching for WGA fix.....there is a programme out there that generates legitimate keys - handy when you've re-installed an OEM version...ahem.