invalid product key help

[goldtech]

Hi,



I am trying to install XP Home on a Dell Inspiron laptop. I use the

product key from the xp home sticker on the underside of the laptop.

And, I get invalid key every time I try. The XP home CD is not the one

one that came with the laptop but it's a valid key sticker and i

thought it should work.



Why isn't the XP home key working with an XP home disk?



Thanks,



Lee G.

 

[WaIIy]

On Sat, 17 Apr 2010 10:33:27 -0700 (PDT), goldtech

wrote:



>Hi,

>

>I am trying to install XP Home on a Dell Inspiron laptop. I use the

>product key from the xp home sticker on the underside of the laptop.

>And, I get invalid key every time I try. The XP home CD is not the one

>one that came with the laptop but it's a valid key sticker and i

>thought it should work.

>

>Why isn't the XP home key working with an XP home disk?

>

>Thanks,

>

>Lee G.



If you use a Dell disk on a Dell computer, it registers itself.



There is nothing you need to do.

 

[Bernd]

-------- Original-Nachricht --------



> Hi,

>

> I am trying to install XP Home on a Dell Inspiron laptop. I use the

> product key from the xp home sticker on the underside of the laptop.

> And, I get invalid key every time I try. The XP home CD is not the one

> one that came with the laptop but it's a valid key sticker and i

> thought it should work.

>

> Why isn't the XP home key working with an XP home disk?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Lee G.



You have to use the product key which came with your (retail ?) XP CD.

The product key from your laptop is an OEM key which doesn't work with a

retail version of XP.



Bernd

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Sat, 17 Apr 2010 10:33:27 -0700 (PDT), goldtech

wrote:



> Hi,

>

> I am trying to install XP Home on a Dell Inspiron laptop. I use the

> product key from the xp home sticker on the underside of the laptop.

> And, I get invalid key every time I try. The XP home CD is not the one

> one that came with the laptop but it's a valid key sticker and i

> thought it should work.

>

> Why isn't the XP home key working with an XP home disk?







The key on the Dell sticker is an OEM key. Presumably your CD is a

retail CD. OEM keys will not work with retail CDs.





--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

 

[Daave]

goldtech wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I am trying to install XP Home on a Dell Inspiron laptop. I use the

> product key from the xp home sticker on the underside of the laptop.

> And, I get invalid key every time I try. The XP home CD is not the one

> one that came with the laptop but it's a valid key sticker and i

> thought it should work.

>

> Why isn't the XP home key working with an XP home disk?



What you describe *should* work if you use a *generic* OEM XP Home

installation CD. If the disk is retail or a branded OEM (other than

Dell), it won't work.



Since Dell-branded OEM XP Home CDs are ubiquitous, perhaps you can

borrow one from a friend, colleague, or realtive. (If you do, you may

make a copy.) The nice thing about the Dell CDs is they incorporate a

feature called SLP (System-Locked Preinstallation), where you don't even

need to enter a product key.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

goldtech wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I am trying to install XP Home on a Dell Inspiron laptop. I use the

> product key from the xp home sticker on the underside of the laptop.

> And, I get invalid key every time I try. The XP home CD is not the one

> one that came with the laptop but it's a valid key sticker and i

> thought it should work.

>

> Why isn't the XP home key working with an XP home disk?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Lee G.





Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of CD/license

(OEM, Volume, retail, or full) 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 OEM

Product Key will not work to install a retail product. An Italian

Product Key will not work with an English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys

and CD/license types cannot usually (it's been reported that the Product

Key for a full license will work with an Upgrade CD) be mixed & matched.



You'll need to use either the installation CD that came with the

laptop, or an unbranded, generic OEM installation CD.





--



Bruce Chambers



Help us help you:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html



http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin



Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell



The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has

killed a great many philosophers.

~ Denis Diderot