Invalid XP Pro Product Key!

I've just restored my system after I kept getting mutiple errors back to
Windows Me, then upgraded to XP Pro. However, when I typed in my product key
when requested, it said that it was invalid, but it is the code from the pack
I bought.

So I was unable to use my product key so phoned a friend who has XP and had
to use his, which worked first time!

Any ideas why this is and why I can't install any updates like SP2 because
my key is "invalid"?? It is very annoying.

Any help appreciated

1. For your original problem.
Did you use the Product Key that came with the CD?
There are many different types and they are not interchangeable.
Look closely at the characters.
S-5, B-8, O-0 and others look alike.
Have someone else try, sometimes another set of eyes and fingers can get it.

2.. For Invalid Product Key with friends key, see if this applies:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm
In any event, you should not be using a friends key unless your friend has
stopped using it.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Smasher" <> wrote in message
news:785F1B06-9482-4DC8-B2AC-...
> I've just restored my system after I kept getting mutiple errors back to
> Windows Me, then upgraded to XP Pro. However, when I typed in my product
> key
> when requested, it said that it was invalid, but it is the code from the
> pack
> I bought.
>
> So I was unable to use my product key so phoned a friend who has XP and
> had
> to use his, which worked first time!
>
> Any ideas why this is and why I can't install any updates like SP2 because
> my key is "invalid"?? It is very annoying.
>
> Any help appreciated

So how do I get out of this mess? I've already read the label properly and
it is definitely the correct code :-(

I didn't have any choice but to use someone else's as that is the only way I
could get access to the PC at all - how am I supposed to get help if all I
get is "Invalid ProductKey - please try again"?

"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:

> 1. For your original problem.
> Did you use the Product Key that came with the CD?
> There are many different types and they are not interchangeable.
> Look closely at the characters.
> S-5, B-8, O-0 and others look alike.
> Have someone else try, sometimes another set of eyes and fingers can get it.
>
> 2.. For Invalid Product Key with friends key, see if this applies:
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm
> In any event, you should not be using a friends key unless your friend has
> stopped using it.
>
> --
> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
> http://www.dts-l.org
>
>
> "Smasher" <> wrote in message
> news:785F1B06-9482-4DC8-B2AC-...
> > I've just restored my system after I kept getting mutiple errors back to
> > Windows Me, then upgraded to XP Pro. However, when I typed in my product
> > key
> > when requested, it said that it was invalid, but it is the code from the
> > pack
> > I bought.
> >
> > So I was unable to use my product key so phoned a friend who has XP and
> > had
> > to use his, which worked first time!
> >
> > Any ideas why this is and why I can't install any updates like SP2 because
> > my key is "invalid"?? It is very annoying.
> >
> > Any help appreciated
>
>
>

did you try to contact microsoft regarding this issue? if your license is
original then they should provide a alternate one or a new OEM Windows XP
cd. That happend to me once in a corporate enviorment so I just used another
license like you did.
btw the company purchased at that time like around 500 licenses at once. so
there was no pirate'ing issues folks.

> So how do I get out of this mess? I've already read the label properly and
> it is definitely the correct code :-(
>
> I didn't have any choice but to use someone else's as that is the only way I
> could get access to the PC at all - how am I supposed to get help if all I
> get is "Invalid ProductKey - please try again"?
>
> "Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:
>
> > 1. For your original problem.
> > Did you use the Product Key that came with the CD?
> > There are many different types and they are not interchangeable.
> > Look closely at the characters.
> > S-5, B-8, O-0 and others look alike.
> > Have someone else try, sometimes another set of eyes and fingers can get it.
> >
> > 2.. For Invalid Product Key with friends key, see if this applies:
> > http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm
> > In any event, you should not be using a friends key unless your friend has
> > stopped using it.
> >
> > --
> > Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> > http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
> > http://www.dts-l.org
> >
> >
> > "Smasher" <> wrote in message
> > news:785F1B06-9482-4DC8-B2AC-...
> > > I've just restored my system after I kept getting mutiple errors back to
> > > Windows Me, then upgraded to XP Pro. However, when I typed in my product
> > > key
> > > when requested, it said that it was invalid, but it is the code from the
> > > pack
> > > I bought.
> > >
> > > So I was unable to use my product key so phoned a friend who has XP and
> > > had
> > > to use his, which worked first time!
> > >
> > > Any ideas why this is and why I can't install any updates like SP2 because
> > > my key is "invalid"?? It is very annoying.
> > >
> > > Any help appreciated
> >
> >
> >

If the label and CD are both genuine originals that came together and do not
work together, contact Microsoft or the seller if it is OEM.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Smasher" <> wrote in message
news:87FC12B0-67E9-47CB-99B0-...
> So how do I get out of this mess? I've already read the label properly
> and
> it is definitely the correct code :-(
>
> I didn't have any choice but to use someone else's as that is the only way
> I
> could get access to the PC at all - how am I supposed to get help if all I
> get is "Invalid ProductKey - please try again"?
>
> "Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> 1. For your original problem.
>> Did you use the Product Key that came with the CD?
>> There are many different types and they are not interchangeable.
>> Look closely at the characters.
>> S-5, B-8, O-0 and others look alike.
>> Have someone else try, sometimes another set of eyes and fingers can get
>> it.
>>
>> 2.. For Invalid Product Key with friends key, see if this applies:
>> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm
>> In any event, you should not be using a friends key unless your friend
>> has
>> stopped using it.
>>
>> --
>> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
>> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
>> http://www.dts-l.org