Brand New xp pro invalid product key

Soldato
Joined
17 Jan 2007
Posts
3,417
Location
London
Hi, I'm trying to install xp pro with sp2, but when I come to the part in setup where it asks me to enter the product key, I do, and it says it is invalid.
I have thoroughly checked I have entered it correctly.
This is a brand new sealed full retail copy, and I'm wondering do things like this happen sometimes (like some xp keygen somewhere has coincidentally generated exactly the key I am trying to use now).
Unfortunately, I can't call microsoft, until monday, so I don't know what to do right now.

My computer previously had an activated copy of xp pro full retail (with no service packs) installed, and due to this fact, I was only able to format 128gb of my 150gb raptor hard drive, leaving me with a small unformatted partition.
Now, I was a bit tentative to use programs such as partition magic, so instead I was very nooby and foolish (in hindsight) and used killdisk to wipe my drive.
First time using killdisk, the program froze, so I had to boot again and on the second attempt, it was successful.

Now, I bought the afore mentioned copy of xp pro with sp2, reformatted the 150gb raptor, and when it asked me for the product key, and I entered it it says it is invalid.

I am wondering, is it that my hardware is already registered with the first xp pro, and it is probably still in record in microsofts system, so I am unable to install a second copy of xp on my computer, until the previous one has been deactivated?

Aside from the 150gb raptor, I have 2 320gb seagates previously formatted with my first xp pro (with no service packs). Would my new copy of xp pro allow the product key to work, if I use a different hard drive.

Any help is much appreciated. :)
 
Curunen said:
I am wondering, is it that my hardware is already registered with the first xp pro, and it is probably still in record in microsofts system, so I am unable to install a second copy of xp on my computer, until the previous one has been deactivated?

no it won't be that... when you buy another license/key its separate from the other..

is it when you are trying to install xp or when your trying to activate??

if its when your trying to install xp that means it's the wrong key...
 
Have a check and see if the activtion key is the same format as the one for your other version of xp. You may be missing something out, it should have nothing to do with whether the key is valid if its at installation.
 
exactly the same format. 5 x five letters/numbers.
I just get a popup saying the cd product key I entered is not valid.
 
Seeing that its a retail version, wouldnt it be just as easy to ring MS up and have them sort it out.
 
why not just reinstall using your original cd/key then just install sp2? you do realise that the new sp2 cd you have is the same as your old one except its had sp2 slipstreamed into it? its not made any different to the original+sp2 installed after the fact.

and also, you're comfortable using a utility like killdisk but *not* comfortable using/installing service packs? sorry but i just dont understand the logic behind this..
 
I am doing that. I'm not uncomfortable with service packs, rather I was uncomfortable with expanding the partition, using something like partition magic.
Though now, I am going to have to use it.
:)
 
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