The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    XP product key on sticker doesn't work? :/

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by YakiSOBA, Sep 9, 2006.

  1. YakiSOBA

    YakiSOBA Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    33
    Messages:
    79
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hey guys,

    I did a clean install of XP on my Asus W3J, and mistakenly used a cd key which was generated from my friend. To correct this, I tried to change my product key to the one listed on the sticker at the bottom of my W3J -- but it doesn't work.

    I tried using the magic bean program to change it, but it keeps saying to try again and that its because the key I entered was invalid or "keyed incorrectly" -- but I checked 10++ times already.

    Next I followed some googled tips and same thing, it said the product key doesn't work.

    What gives? :( Everytime I boot up windows theres some huge logo saying I don't have an authentic product key!
     
    YakiSOBA, Sep 9, 2006
    #1
  2. Tim

    Tim Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    2,752
    Messages:
    3,141
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    106
    You probably will need to call Microsoft.
    Tim
     
    Tim, Sep 9, 2006
    #2
  3. YakiSOBA

    YakiSOBA Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    33
    Messages:
    79
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Do you know if they are open on weekends? lol
     
    YakiSOBA, Sep 9, 2006
    #3
  4. Tim

    Tim Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    2,752
    Messages:
    3,141
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    106
    They probably are. I would look to see if they gave you a phone number to call if you are having problems installing. Then I would call that number and explain what happend. Hopefully they can reset it or send you a new copy.
    Tim
     
    Tim, Sep 9, 2006
    #4
  5. drumfu

    drumfu super modfu

    Reputations:
    436
    Messages:
    3,651
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    reinstall with the correct key is an option
     
    drumfu, Sep 9, 2006
    #5
  6. egarbage

    egarbage Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    95
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    All CD's won't work with all keys. Some cd's are corporate based, some are consumer based.
     
    egarbage, Sep 9, 2006
    #6
  7. zolo

    zolo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    45
    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    X2

    Don't call Microsoft before you try this first.
     
    zolo, Sep 9, 2006
    #7
  8. yan

    yan Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    194
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The one on the back of my A8J didn't work either. I was trying to do a fresh install. Ended up using the recovery CDs to revert to factory setting... I got my laptop in Shanghai. Things get pretty shifty when you're in that country.

    Meh...
     
    yan, Sep 10, 2006
    #8
  9. root

    root Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    12
    Messages:
    143
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    What you did i am betting, was installed off of your firends CLEAN install disk, odds are that his is either a corp disk or a retail disk. The key you have is for an OEM install, what you are going to need to do, is get your hands on a OEM disk and format/reinstall from there with an OEM! XP disk.
     
    root, Sep 10, 2006
    #9
  10. qwester

    qwester Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    366
    Messages:
    2,755
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    ^ Exactly. If the CD you are using to do the install is a retail CD (which it most likely is) the OEM license on the bottom of your notebook won't work with it.

    Retail/OEM licenses and CDs are not cross-usable (if that's a word :p)
     
    qwester, Sep 10, 2006
    #10