Cant install XP

[quik1]

Hi all - have a problem with xp (again). I just did a repair installation on xp pro oem edition. It was, needless to say, already installed on the machine when the client bought it bout 2 years back. So he just wanted a "clean" installation done without losing any data. So my problem is: I booted from the disk > chose to instal xp > chose a repair installation > everything still fine > it deleted the old xp installation and then copied the files > nothing wrong still, but then the dialog box comes up to enter the product key and it looks like its doing an upgrade? it says the product key i entered is invalid (no its not a pirate edit - the COA is attached to the side) I checked on the disk for the key and its the same key - why wont it accept the key? i didnt miss type checked it a few times! How can i get pass this? Help

 

[The_Techie]

You might have to try a normal installation of Windows XP, I've seen a few repair installations go horribly wrong (such as the product key not being accepted)

If you have an external hard drive, use something like BartPE to boot into a Windows environment and copy all of the data that has to be kept to the drive.

Then again, chances are that there's just some small problem so don't do this just yet

 

[PHTech]

Rather backup all the data (Ghost the HDD) and do a clean installation, as with a repair you will always have some sort of problem that was on the previous installation... It will take alot longer to have all the data copied back, but its worth the time... But then again, thats a personal opinion...

 

[quik1]

As a last resort, try a another key and and then change it later. I hope you didn't choose the internet register option?

No - its still installing windows - by the part just b4 it says installing devices!
I really cant do a clean installation, because he has alot of apps on there like eg. Pastel wich will also need to be re activated - and he does not want to do that!!
Im gonna try to install a "other" xp installation and just change the keys to the COA after the installation b4 i activate it, and c if that will work

 

[web]

No - its still installing windows - by the part just b4 it says installing devices!
I really cant do a clean installation, because he has alot of apps on there like eg. Pastel wich will also need to be re activated - and he does not want to do that!!
Im gonna try to install a "other" xp installation and just change the keys to the COA after the installation b4 i activate it, and c if that will work

Chances are you are going to have to re-install all those apps anyway, chances of them working after reinstalling windows is rather slim

 

[quik1]

I have another xp oem disk here and its also refusing to accept the key - Is there any other way i can extract the key from the disk - i cant find the ".sif" file is it stored anywhere else?

 

[killadoob]

im not sure if different service packs may effect the repair

why are you repairing something thats not broken, just does not make sense, as far as i know repairing does not make windows fresh again or does it?

what sp does it say on the disks?

 

[quik1]

sp2 - and im repairing it cause it was full of problems and was installed over 2 years back with no maintanance done since then!

 

[.Froot.]

Chances are you are going to have to re-install all those apps anyway, chances of them working after reinstalling windows is rather slim

You WILL have to re-install the software after a re-install.

 

[Digilus]

I have another xp oem disk here and its also refusing to accept the key

I ran into the same problem a few weeks ago. Turns out the key is specific to the install media. From what I found (and this was through allot of trial and error) is that some keys work for XP SP1 discs .. others work for old XP discs .. others only work on XP SP2 discs ... you are going to probably have to try an original XP disc, then a SP1 disc etc .. to see which works for the key the client has. pesky but true.

 

[quik1]

i have the original disk that came with the pc / coa - and it still doesnt work
its a real shame that ms is trying to fight piracy and u have to beg them to use the software u bought legally. and they wonder why ppl pirate software - its less hasle
Not that im saying that piracy is right (we also loose money through it) but.......