Win XP Key Trouble
I had to format and reinstall a laptop and i do not have a image or recovery cd. There is a key on the bottom of the laptop. I used my home retail xp sp2 media disc to install and now i want to change the key from my personal key to a company key. I tried the one on the bottom of the laptop and it says it is invalid this is before trying to activate. I am trying to change and update the key in the telephone activation screen in xp as this unit is not connected to the internet.
I even tried a couple different xp sp3 oem keys that are brand new in the shrink wrap from cdw and they say invalid also.
What could be wrong?
I even tried a couple different xp sp3 oem keys that are brand new in the shrink wrap from cdw and they say invalid also.
What could be wrong?
Nathan Riley
You should call into Microsoft and tell them you formated and now you need a phone activation key, they will give you one over the phone and it will be fixed.
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So i will have to reformat and reinstall with oem media correct? I have that and can do that but my oem media is sp3 and i need sp2.
Will any oem media install with any oem key and will and retail media install with any retal key. The key is not burned on the media in any way is it?
I ask this because when i ued the retail media to install i tried to put a oem key in then and it would not work.
Will any oem media install with any oem key and will and retail media install with any retal key. The key is not burned on the media in any way is it?
I ask this because when i ued the retail media to install i tried to put a oem key in then and it would not work.
That's correct, but again the OEM media has to be from the same manufacturer as the laptop.
If you have a "Dell branded" CD of Windows XP you can only install that on a "Dell branded" laptop.
There are other OEM's that will work with nearly any hardware (think newegg/cdw) that would work with the OEM key as well but these prompt for the serial number, which if you have the media you should have.
If you have a "Dell branded" CD of Windows XP you can only install that on a "Dell branded" laptop.
There are other OEM's that will work with nearly any hardware (think newegg/cdw) that would work with the OEM key as well but these prompt for the serial number, which if you have the media you should have.
ASKER
Where could i get sp2 oem install media? Could it be downloaded from somewhere? or purchased?
Seems hard to find. I have keys i just need the right media
Seems hard to find. I have keys i just need the right media
ASKER
my oem keys and media are sp3 but they are from cdw they did not come with the laptop. I purchased xp oem versions from cdw just like you would if you were building your own pc.
From my understanding once a oem key is activated it is locked to that hardware forever and can not be moved to a different machine like retail box can. am i correct?
From my understanding once a oem key is activated it is locked to that hardware forever and can not be moved to a different machine like retail box can. am i correct?
You can order the disk mediaset at microsoft.com, I ordered them in the past SP2 and SP3.
With XP there is a lot of key mayhem XP Oem SP1 key on SP2 cannot be installed and so on.
With VISTA and Windows 7 the key problem is solved OEM keys work on Retail media and vice versa maybe you can decide to upgrade the XP towards Windows 7 if you cannot buy a disk mediaset at microsoft.com
Ronald
With XP there is a lot of key mayhem XP Oem SP1 key on SP2 cannot be installed and so on.
With VISTA and Windows 7 the key problem is solved OEM keys work on Retail media and vice versa maybe you can decide to upgrade the XP towards Windows 7 if you cannot buy a disk mediaset at microsoft.com
Ronald
Is there something in particular that when SP3 is install an application stops working?
The added "security" fixes screw with an application that you have?
The added "security" fixes screw with an application that you have?
you should install sp3 by all means....Lot's of fixes over there...
I do not think any one of your app. will quit working after the installation
of the service pack.Very rare issues....
Did you check for the recovery partition?
But,if you come to purchasing new OS,you should consider windows 7.
I do not think any one of your app. will quit working after the installation
of the service pack.Very rare issues....
Did you check for the recovery partition?
But,if you come to purchasing new OS,you should consider windows 7.
ASKER
I have to have xp for specific apps and sp3 does break a couple of them. This is a known condition from the software vendor but they have never fixed it. They just say sp3 is not supported because of this and this is a specific app for specific industrial hardware process control.
You could also use NLITE and slipstream in the SP3 service pack to the OEM media.
Please see - http://www.nliteos.com/ for the program to slipstream the media.
Please see - http://www.nliteos.com/ for the program to slipstream the media.
You would need to look at the updates that make up SP3 and uninstall them one at a time.
Your best bet would be to 'convert' the media that you have into OEM and then reinstall using the new media that you have just created. This would preserve the SP2 installation disk and accept the OEM key.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/08/16/how-to-change-windows-xp-version-between-retail-oem-and-volume-license-channel/
Ive done this and it works fine.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/08/16/how-to-change-windows-xp-version-between-retail-oem-and-volume-license-channel/
Ive done this and it works fine.
Refer the http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874
>>now i want to change the key from my personal key to a company key.
Sounds like you'll need the company image or VLK install disk if you are using the Company Key to activate.
If it's a VLK CD then you can simply run a repair/reinstall from that.
Sounds like you'll need the company image or VLK install disk if you are using the Company Key to activate.
If it's a VLK CD then you can simply run a repair/reinstall from that.