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marioc89

I'm re-installing windows on the same computer I've installed this product key on before and it's telling me 'product key is not valid'. The disk that came with it is not working properly so I used another disk I got from school and it to is a professional xp disk. As long as it's the same computer with the same product key and same os disk, even though one is from Dell another is straight from MS, it shouldn't matter what I install with, right?

wired

Originally Posted by marioc89

The disk that came with it is not working properly so I used another disk..... long as it's the same computer with the same product key and same os disk, even though one is from Dell another is straight from MS, it shouldn't matter what I install with, right?

You just said yourself it's -not- the same disk. Well, there's your problem. Each key is for a specific disk, and that disk only.

marioc89

Well I've used this same disk over and over. And what I wa going to do was just install it with that disk and then put the right key in, which you can do.

radar

Hi Marioc89,
Welcome to the PCHF,

Originally Posted by marioc89

Well I've used this same disk over and over.

I'm afraid this may be your problem, if you use the same disk a certain number of times MS seem to block it after a number of uses. try contacting Microsoft and see what they have to say.

joe5

Originally Posted by marioc89

and it to is a professional xp disk. As long as it's the same computer with the same product key and same os disk, even though one is from Dell another is straight from MS, it shouldn't matter what I install with, right?

So if i read it correct you are installing with an XP pro disc , and using the key from the Dell disc?

The Dell disc is probebly XP home , then you cant use an pro key anyway. But also the Dell disc isn't a normal windows disc and wont have a "normal" key.

So no , you cant install XP pro and use the Dell (probebly home) key with it.

marioc89

No. The Dell disk is not a home edition, it's a pro. Stil in all, the Dell disk isn't working that well because it keeps bringing up a 'pci.xxx' file is missing and I don't know what that means. But with my disk, it doesn't matter how many times you use the disk it will still go through the the installation but it won't let you activate it. And waht I was going to do was install it with my disk and later go into the registry and change it manually.

marioc89

When I tried to use the Dell disk, an error came up saying my pcmcia.sys file cannot be found. What does that mean and what can I do to solve it?