Just got an X300, Vista Biz w/XP Pro Downgrade. Having issues clean installing XP

OK, so I just got a new X300 with Windows Vista Business and the XP Pro downgrade.

1) The X300 has a Windows Vista Business authenticity sticker on the bottom under battery with a Vista Business product-key code.
2) The X300 booted up with Windows XP Professional installed.
3) No recovery CDs were included and there is NO authenticity sticker with an XP product code on it.

Color me confused... anyway, I did the Backup to Recovery Media function to back the factory install up to DVDs. I went online and found a utility that gives you the Product code of your current Windows installation. I wrote down the code and used that to clean install Windows XP Pro with an OEM disc I had laying around here.

Now I've run into a snag, grrr. I did a clean install of Windows XP Pro OEM using the keycode provided from the Windows XP keyviewer. Everything installed fine.

Then when I went to activate Windows, it says that the keycode may have been mistyped and it asked me to retype it. I retyped it and it keeps giving me the box to enter the correct keycode.

WTH do I do now?

 

Call Microsoft and ask for a XP Pro key!

 

My laptops that have vista and xp downgrade have restore Disks
Thanks toPanasonic
When you use the restore disks in my case they never ask for the key as they will only restore on the proper laptop

See if you can order restore disks for your laptop from the manufacturer
That makes it easy as it installs all the correct drivers aswell

The key you have must be only for vista

 

Just called them, they can't help. They gave me the number for lenovo, so I called them. They said that they don't provide the product key for XP. I can only do the restore to get a factory fresh copy of XP.

I can't use an OEM disc and a product key b/c one is not provided. So the installation product key that the keyviewer found is worthless.

He said the only thing I can do is do a restore using the discs and uninstall all the crapware

 

Thats the best option
The restore will include the drivers needed
Just clean up programs, and stop unnessesary programs from starting

 

In my experience the Lenovo preloads aren't too bogged down (especially when compared to Dell/HP), plus they have all the drivers for your system preinstalled.

I would just use the recovery discs you made and disable/uninstall the ThinkVantage software that you don't want.

 

I had the EXACT same problem when I tried to do a clean install with my T61. Everything you described is verbatim what I said a few months ago when my clean install did not go according to plan. Like you, I called Lenovo, and they said I would have to buy a fresh copy of XP Pro, and that my best option was using the recovery discs and just select the features you want installed.