How can i get this to work..?

[edd1e]

Hi Guys,

I have a laptop which has a fully valid XP Home license (sticker on bottom of the laptop with serial etc) however i have lost the disk.

I have come to format the laptop and am using another XP Home disk to install (this copy has with SP2 integrated) and when i try and use the serial on the base of the laptop but it won't take it?

I think this may be because the version that came installed on the laptop is just the normal plain Home edition with no services packs... and i'm trying to use this serial with the latest version with SP2 built in?

So to get round this i used the serial that came with my spare disk and then changed the serial in windows using a key changer to the original serial found on the base of the laptop.

I then went to activate windows and still says 'incorrect cd key'.

Is this purly because the install of windows is different? any ideas

Thanks!

EDIT: Just noticed under the serial on the licence label it has 'HP' as its a hp laptop not sure if this makes any difference?

 

[marc2003]

it's not because of the service pack level but rather the type of disk. i'm guessing it's a retail disk whereas your key is oem. you cannot use oem keys with retail disks and vice versa.

send me your email address to my ocuk userid @ gmail.com - i should be able to help you out.

 

[edd1e]

sent

EDIT: Just wanna say marc2003 is a legend all sorted. thanks mate!