reinstalling xp home edition problem

Scruff

The HD died on a HP Pavilion pc in my gf's school so i've replaced it and am trying to install xp home again. I dont have the pc's original cd so i'm using my own cd. Its got as far as the Enter Product Key stage so i am using the one that is on the XP home liscense sticker on the HP pc but setup is telling me its invalid!!!
I've tried reentering it loads of times but it just wont work. it'll accept my own liscense key but obviously i wont use it.
What can i do???

i've gone to the microsoft website and compared the tag and it looks genuine. why isnt the key being accepted???

irlrobins

the product key on the HP is prob for a volume license or OEM copy of Win Xp. So if ur CD is not a volume or OEM version then it won't work.

It might be possible to install using ur key, and then change the key once installation is complete. (Instructions)

theothernt

Hi,

What you are trying to should work, you just need to make sure that *your* copy of Windows XP is Home Edition as well. If your CD contains the Pro Edition, a Home Edition key will not work.

OEM Home Editions, like those that came with a Dell PC/Notebook for example, are fine as well. I recently re-installed a Dell OEM copy of Windows XP onto a Targa laptop using its own key - all went well.

- Neil

Capt'n Midnight

For Office 2000 the SR1 CD's would not take the older keys

Not sure if the same applies for XP. Try another OEM CD perhaps,
Xp , XP Sp1 , Xp Sp1a , Xp 2 etc...