Windows xp installation activation problem

thomasjad

Hi I guess this goes here..i recently had a problem on a compaq presario m2000 with windows xp home edition on it..after days of confusion I download a xp home edition with sp3 cd and used that to repair the pc..when i try to log in tho it asks me for the activation key and when I type in the key from the sticker on the pc it says it's invalid..anyone got any insight into this?

Karoma

It sounded like you downloaded a 'Retail' copy of XP (naughty, naughty), whereas the copy that came with your Compaq was an OEM copy. They have different licenses and use different keys. Get your hands on an OEM Compaq copy.

thomasjad

Is there any other way then having to go download and install this?

mukki

buy retail xp and just type in code


sorry op best option is to format and install xp from an OEM xp cd, plenty of dell xp home cds on ebay



retail xp home cd is almost completely useless, i look after computers for over 600 houses and businness, and only 1 bought an xp home retail package

mukki

also just in case you xp cd is OEM

check you didn't type an 8 for a B or vice versa, always gets me

Capt'n Midnight

downloading a windows CD is dodgy,

microsoft don't allow you do to it with older versions of windows

third party sites may have trojans and other nasties in the mix, ditto for cisco IOS



since you have a compaq you are best off checking with them to see if there is a restore partition on the hard drive that will restore your pc to factory install, note you will need to backup all data as it will probably get wiped

Dell CD's check for the BIOS string so you may have problems running on a non-dell machine

ask your friends/family if anyone has a COMPAQ XP CD of the same Home/Pro that you could borrow.

thomasjad

Finally got it working and everything is sorted out so thank you everyone for help