Laptop won't take XP key

[witch]

i know its a faf but could you just put the drive in another pc get the install past the key bit then put back in the real laptop for driver detection etc?

Yeah, I did think of that but don't have a handy IDE laptop anywhere at home. Could ferret one out at work I suppose. I am going to try the XP home disc kindly provided by both @mattx + and @Arthur and see where I get to then

[sted]

woeth a go might be worth trying to flash the bios as maybe it is a slic issue and a newer version sill be less problamatic

[witch]

...right - have now tried the two XP home isos I was so kindly sent...

and neither work - or rather, I get the press any key to boot from CD message but then, nothing....

AAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Arthur]

Do you just get a black screen with a flashing cursor after you have pressed the any key?

[mattx]

...right - have now tried the two XP home isos I was so kindly sent...

and neither work - or rather, I get the press any key to boot from CD message but then, nothing....

AAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

Hmmmm - dodgy CD Rom ? Do you have a USB CD drive you can try ?

Failing that see if you can get it to boot via a Linux Live CD or UBCD - Ultimate Boot CD - Overview

[witch]

Yes I just get a flashing cursor.

And the thing beeps at me if I persist in trying to press any key!

Dont have a USB CD but again have got one at work - will schlepp it home tomorrow.

What would booting it into Linux do - just show that it is booting?

[computer_expert]

Did you burn the ISO on a slow speed?

 

I find that burning OS ISOs on a higher speed can lead to all kinds of weird and wonderful errors from missing files to installs hanging.

[witch]

Did you burn the ISO on a slow speed?

 

I find that burning OS ISOs on a higher speed can lead to all kinds of weird and wonderful errors from missing files to installs hanging.

 

The burning program didnt give any options for speed but I am going to try again.

[mac_shinobi]

There is a method or way of copying over all the files from the xp home iso to the laptop hard drive and installing windows xp from the hard drive using winnt.exe ?? Am sure a few people have used this method when the optical drive on there laptop has given up the ghost, they attach the laptop hard drive to a working pc and copy over the installation files and install xp onto the laptop from the laptops hard drive once the hard drive is back in the laptop obviously,

 

Install Windows XP on Laptop Without Working CD or Floppy Drive | HighTech EDGE

 

Once installed you should be able to use the convert command to convert the FS to NTFS if required :

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307881

 

I normally either use deep burner or xp burner se, xp burner se is my preferred one

[Arthur]

I find that burning OS ISOs on a higher speed can lead to all kinds of weird and wonderful errors from missing files to installs hanging.

Don't burn them too slow though...

 

Did you know: Slow write speeds + modern drives + modern media = no good

 

Questions like these usually stem from the old urban myth that slower write speeds automatically equal better compatibility with game consoles and older drives/players. The truth is: writing with extremely slow speeds on high speed media is a VERY bad idea in almost every case!

[Arthur]

There is a method or way of copying over all the files from the xp home iso to the laptop hard drive and installing windows XP from the hard drive using winnt.exe?

Much easier method detailed here. All you need is a Windows 7 (or Vista) DVD/UFD and your Windows XP Home or Pro disc. The laptop's HDD can be formatted with NTFS from the start too.

[markcuk]

Error message when you install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Service Pack 2 (SP2): "The product key used to install Windows is invalid"

 

You receive an error message after you enter the product key when you try to install Windows XP

 

might help!

[Arthur]

Regarding the product key on the sticker...

 

In order to reduce a significant source of piracy, Microsoft has disabled online activation for COA Keys that are attached to PCs that have been pre-activated by OEMs. This change should have a minimal impact on licensed users who generally do not use their COA Key to activate the software because it has been pre-activated by the OEM. However, if a licensed end user needs to activate because the OEM pre-activation does not work as expected (e.g., after the replacement of a defective motherboard) they can do so via phone-based activation. (Source)

 

I get the press any key to boot from CD message but then, nothing....

1. Have you tried resetting the BIOS back to its default settings?

2. Is the BIOS and/or HDD password protected?

3. Bad hard drive? Might be worth running the relevant manufacturers' diagnostic tool on it e.g. via UBCD

4. Is the HDD completely blank? Running DBAN for a minute or two should do the trick.

 

I did think of that but don't have a handy IDE laptop anywhere at home.

See post #36. Alternatively use a TRK disc to do the same (but over the network).

[witch]

Right

Well, some success in that a new .iso was accepted and the key from the machine put in OK. However, now the cursor is just freezing when the machine is on and the desktop is there. So...the only thing left is to perhaps update the drivers etc.

This is apparently the issue the owner had before she took it to some muppet who left me with the 'key invalid' issue. Hey ho - thanks for all your help chaps

[Martin]

My old Sony VAIO used some Sony Update thingy for drivers and application software updates - so maybe you can (re-)register there and download the latest ones?

 

Sorry, not got the link on me ATM, but i am sure that you will be able to find it (maybe initially via another PC).

 

mb

[Martin]

VAIO After-Sales Support maybe?

 

mb

[Michael]

Another thing you could try is burning an XP Home SP3 disc with nLite, and include an answer file (including the serial) for a completely automated install.

 

You could also try Windows 7 SP1 (without a serial), because if that doesn't work either, then it's possible there's a hardware related issue with the machine. Windows 7 is much better than XP driver wise and setup is much quicker too.