I have a problem with my sons computer which was running windows 7 but very slow (pentium 4 chip with 1 gb of ram) so decided to put xp back on but it kept blue screening when it was loading the setup drivers anyway to cut a long story short it was because i had put a newer board in last year that had a pci express slot and as my xp disc was 2002 it didn't include the drivers for the pci express interface.

So i used a program called N Lite to make a copy of my original XP Home disc and also slipstreamed service pack 3 into this disc, it solved the blue screen paroblem but now it says that my license key is not valid and I cant continue with the set up. I think this is happening because it is seeing service pack 3 and my license key was for an installation disc which didn't have any service packs.

The frustrating thing is if i could get windows xp to install the original disc it would allow me to download the service pack 3 but as its looking for the key during the setup process i cant do anything else, Just wondered if there is a way round this or would Microsoft be able to help if I called them, they arent open for these types of enquiry until tomorrow.

What a joke as I have the original disc and also have an old case with a license key stuck to the back and this doesn't work either.

Cheers everyone for any help on this.

I have come across a similar issue recently when rebuilding a couple of friends machines.

First was a Dell, which had a windows key on the side. I used my MSDN XP home iso, and did the install. It refused to accept the license key, I even called the activation number and it told me it was a pirate copy. Eventually I downloaded a torrent copy of xp sp3 Dell, which installed immediately on the machine and did not even prompt for the license code.

Next I had to do a Samsung laptop, that again refused to like my MSDN home iso, and also refused on the Dell disk (it wanted activating as the hardware wasn't a Dell). I gave up and stuck Linux on that instead.

iirc when you install windows, you can activate it later, and actually skip the entering of the key at install time, but then you have 30 days to register/activate it. So maybe you could take that route?

The problem could be because its an OEM key, and its tied to the original motherboard.

It doesnt matter what SP revision you have, the keys as long as it worked before should work with all of them.

It could also be because you are trying to use a VLK key against an OEM disk. With XP there were 2 CD's, an OEM and VLK version and the keys are not cross compatible.

The problem could be because its an OEM key, and its tied to the original motherboard.

It doesnt matter what SP revision you have, the keys as long as it worked before should work with all of them.

It could also be because you are trying to use a VLK key against an OEM disk. With XP there were 2 CD's, an OEM and VLK version and the keys are not cross compatible.

I think its because i have slipstreamed service pack 3 into my original oem 2002 disc which has no service packs. I have tried using the oem license but to no avail, Is it perhaps because windows setup is seeing that the slipstreamed cd has service pack 3 and this is why the license keys don't work.

It would be ok if i could get it to install on the original disc then i can just download the relevant service pack - its so frustrating.

Just had a thought, when i slipstreamed the discs i used the option to include the license key so that you were never prompted to be asked to put in the key, I used the key on the back of the computer case and not the key that came with my OEM disc could this be where the problem is as the key on the case is an e-machines system and im not sure if these type of systems are oem keys.

I am now re doing the disc using n-lite but this time i am not including the serial number so that it will prompt me for it during the install.

I will prob post back in half an hour saying it hasnt worked but its worth a try lol.

Yep, that should sort it. As already explained, there's two types of XP key/

Good luck,

Steve

It still did not work but slipstreaming service pack 2 worked, dont know what the difference is why service pack 2 would work but service pack 3 was a no go. Least its sorted now. You are always learning something with computers lol.

if you are upgrading from RTM to SP3 then first slipstream SP2 if you are using Vista/Windows7 as a host.

Version 1.4.5 did fix the CD key problem in most cases under Vista but it was a bit of a bodge and I guess it didn't fix it when using Windows7 as a host