windows XP Key(Compaq COA) not working

[Vaz]

Hi,

I recently purchased old Compaq PC with COA key(professional) from ebay, I
have the windows xp pro sp3 installer cd, When I enter the product
key(compaq xp pro coa) during installation it says invalid key,, Please let
me know how to solve this problem, what is causing the key to be invalid?

Thanks.

 

[philo]

Re: windows XP Key(Compaq COA) not working


"Vaz" <Vaz@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:42CEB860-ED4F-467C-8606-406B7133147B@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I recently purchased old Compaq PC with COA key(professional) from ebay, I
> have the windows xp pro sp3 installer cd, When I enter the product
> key(compaq xp pro coa) during installation it says invalid key,, Please
let
> me know how to solve this problem, what is causing the key to be invalid?
>
> Thanks.


The Compaq probably has an OEM version of XP
and is therefore not valid with your CD.

If the CD you have has not been used to install XP
on another machine, you should be able to use the key that came with it.

Otherwise you *might* be able to get the OEM CD from Compaq

 

[Malke]

Re: windows XP Key(Compaq COA) not working

Vaz wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I recently purchased old Compaq PC with COA key(professional) from ebay, I
> have the windows xp pro sp3 installer cd, When I enter the product
> key(compaq xp pro coa) during installation it says invalid key,, Please
> let
> me know how to solve this problem, what is causing the key to be invalid?

You're either using a retail version of XP SP3 or a branded OEM disk (Dell
for ex.) that is BIOS-locked to that particular OEM's motherboard. You need
a generic OEM XP install disk. Or, depending on the computer's age, it
might be worthwhile contacting HP-Compaq for recovery disks. If recovery
disks are available, they are very inexpensive and will have all the
drivers you need. Unfortunately, they'll also have all the old preinstalled
OEM garbage, but you can uninstall that.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

 

[Vaz]

Re: windows XP Key(Compaq COA) not working

Thanks for your answers,, I will try to get the restore cd from hp, its P4
system and hopefully they still sell the restore cd's.

"Malke" wrote:

> Vaz wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I recently purchased old Compaq PC with COA key(professional) from ebay, I
> > have the windows xp pro sp3 installer cd, When I enter the product
> > key(compaq xp pro coa) during installation it says invalid key,, Please
> > let
> > me know how to solve this problem, what is causing the key to be invalid?
>
> You're either using a retail version of XP SP3 or a branded OEM disk (Dell
> for ex.) that is BIOS-locked to that particular OEM's motherboard. You need
> a generic OEM XP install disk. Or, depending on the computer's age, it
> might be worthwhile contacting HP-Compaq for recovery disks. If recovery
> disks are available, they are very inexpensive and will have all the
> drivers you need. Unfortunately, they'll also have all the old preinstalled
> OEM garbage, but you can uninstall that.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
>
>

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Re: windows XP Key(Compaq COA) not working

Vaz wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I recently purchased old Compaq PC with COA key(professional) from ebay, I
> have the windows xp pro sp3 installer cd, When I enter the product
> key(compaq xp pro coa) during installation it says invalid key,, Please let
> me know how to solve this problem, what is causing the key to be invalid?
>


The key is being flagged as invalid because you're not using it with an
OEM installation CD.

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of
CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, or full) with which they are purchased.
For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail
version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice versa.
An OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail product. An
Italian Product Key will not work with an English CD. Bottom line:
Product Keys and CD/license types cannot usually (it's been reported
that the Product Key for a full license will work with an Upgrade CD) be
mixed & matched.

You would need to use either the original Compaq Recovery disk that
came with the computer, or an unbranded, generic OEM disk for the same
WinXP edition (Home vs. Pro) as that for which you have the license.


--

Bruce Chambers

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