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XP Pro won't install with key off of laptop

VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Friend brought me a Toshiba Laptop, with an XP Pro official key on the bottom. Clearly, the laptop used to run XP. I used an XP Pro SP3 disc to install. Install was going fine, but it wouldn't accept the key on the bottom of the laptop. Are SP3 keys incompatible with prior-SP keys or something? I thought that the install discs were supposed to be backwards-compatible.

For now, I'm installing it without the key, and am going to attempt to install the key post-install, using MS's key-changing script.
 
Shouldn't any OEM disc work?

I tried using the phone activation, it said that it couldn't identify the product id. Like it didn't recognize an XP Pro key???

I dunno, might have to just go around product activation. Clearly, it's a factory-affixed key on a retail Toshiba laptop, it's not fake. Don't know why XP Pro SP3 OEM isn't accepting the key, nor why MS's phone activation isn't either.

I've like quadruple-checked the key, I'm not typing it in wrong that I can see.

Edit: I've come to the conclusion that MS is slowing turning off activation services for XP. Which I think is a dirty load of crap. There are still plenty of working XP boxes, that might need to be reformatted now and again.

MS's activation page suggested a Windows 7 Pro "Get Genuine" kit, for $149.99. Because it said my current OS isn't being sold any more. How convenient for them that they suggest an upgrade.
 
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XP was picky about the key it would take, sometimes even differentiating between SP level. Not surprised you're having issues.
 
VirtualLarry said:
Shouldn't any OEM disc work?

I tried using the phone activation, it said that it couldn't identify the product id. Like it didn't recognize an XP Pro key???

I dunno, might have to just go around product activation. Clearly, it's a factory-affixed key on a retail Toshiba laptop, it's not fake. Don't know why XP Pro SP3 OEM isn't accepting the key, nor why MS's phone activation isn't either.

I've like quadruple-checked the key, I'm not typing it in wrong that I can see.

Edit: I've come to the conclusion that MS is slowing turning off activation services for XP. Which I think is a dirty load of crap. There are still plenty of working XP boxes, that might need to be reformatted now and again.

MS's activation page suggested a Windows 7 Pro "Get Genuine" kit, for $149.99. Because it said my current OS isn't being sold any more. How convenient for them that they suggest an upgrade.
Click to expand...



First, I'm not surprised the key on the sticker wasn't recognized by the online or phone activation. Ran into this several times during the XP days myself.

Those keys usually aren't activated the normal way. The OS install from the OEM's typically "activate" themselves with a check of the BIOS or whatever the mfgr. of the computer decides to use. If the check passes, the OS activates without contacting MS at all, and really never does.

And, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the OEM mfgr. generated the key for that label/OS install, not MS directly. That's why the key isn't recognized by MS...not in their data base yet.

Second, you need an OEM disc that matches the install of the OS...SP2, SP1, whatever. Otherwise, as you discovered, won't do it. Also, forget trying to get a retail key to work with an OEM disc and vice versa.

XP was frustrating that way. Guess that's why I ended up with dozens of OEM XP discs during the XP years.
 
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Meghan is correct. Many OEMs used an activation process that checks a code in the system BIOS to confirm that the machine is allowed to install the OEM version of Windows XP that was purchased with the computer. You can't activate Windows manually with the license key on the sticker for these computers. You need to use a matching Toshiba XP installation disc to do it.
 
Since getting an original Toshiba OEM XP disk is highly unlikely, you can remaster the XP installation CD you currently have with a modified setupp.ini file and matching CD volume label which will allow you to install and activate with the legitimate key from the COA sticker: Installing Windows XP with OEM Key but Using Retail CD (or Vice-versa). Keep in mind that changing the PID is simple but choosing the correct CD volume label to match the OEM key version of XP, that Toshiba installed on that laptop, is critical for activation to succeed.
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If you search around the net. You may be able to find the OEMBIOS and SLP key Toshiba used and remaster another OEM install disk that will be activated after the install is completed.
 
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