Bad Product Key - Windows 2000

[Guest DJH]

I am trying to reinstall Windows 2000 on a PC after having to replace the

hard drive. I have the CD that came direct from Microsoft many years ago and

a Product Key sticker on the envelope. In the setup, after entering the type

of keyboard,etc. it asks for the product key. It does not accept the one

that I enter. Is there any way to tell from the key if I have the correct

envelope and that it is indeed for Windows 2000? What else could be wrong?

How can I get a valid key?

--

DJH

--

DJH

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Bad Product Key - Windows 2000

 

 

"DJH" <passport@trpaul.com> wrote in message

news:1C4654B4-ADD8-482B-95F3-0C10A4257655@microsoft.com...

>I am trying to reinstall Windows 2000 on a PC after having to replace the

> hard drive. I have the CD that came direct from Microsoft many years ago

> and

> a Product Key sticker on the envelope. In the setup, after entering the

> type

> of keyboard,etc. it asks for the product key. It does not accept the one

> that I enter. Is there any way to tell from the key if I have the correct

> envelope and that it is indeed for Windows 2000? What else could be

> wrong?

> How can I get a valid key?

> --

> DJH

> --

> DJH

 

You can tell if the key does not match the CD: When the installation

program rejects it. Try a friend's Win2000 CD instead, making sure

that it is a different type (e.g. OEM instead of Retail). BTW, this is a

WinXP newsgroup. You might want to post future questions in

Win2000.general.

[Guest Ghostrider]

Re: Bad Product Key - Windows 2000

 

 

DJH wrote:

> I am trying to reinstall Windows 2000 on a PC after having to replace the

> hard drive. I have the CD that came direct from Microsoft many years ago and

> a Product Key sticker on the envelope. In the setup, after entering the type

> of keyboard,etc. it asks for the product key. It does not accept the one

> that I enter. Is there any way to tell from the key if I have the correct

> envelope and that it is indeed for Windows 2000? What else could be wrong?

> How can I get a valid key?

 

 

One thing to do is to be very careful whilst entering the Product Key.

Do not, for instance, confuse the letter "O" for the number "0" or the

letter "B" for the number "8", etc. These things happen when "blocky"

letters are being used on a tape that does distort or the ink smears,

etc. The more astute developers avoid using number-character sets that

can confuse.

[Guest DJH]

Re: Bad Product Key - Windows 2000

 

I don't see any Windows 2000 groups listed in the discussion group index, so

that's why I ended up using XP. I see older versions of Windows, but not

2000.

 

Is there any way to tell from the product key what product it is for?

 

--

DJH

 

 

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>

> "DJH" <passport@trpaul.com> wrote in message

> news:1C4654B4-ADD8-482B-95F3-0C10A4257655@microsoft.com...

> >I am trying to reinstall Windows 2000 on a PC after having to replace the

> > hard drive. I have the CD that came direct from Microsoft many years ago

> > and

> > a Product Key sticker on the envelope. In the setup, after entering the

> > type

> > of keyboard,etc. it asks for the product key. It does not accept the one

> > that I enter. Is there any way to tell from the key if I have the correct

> > envelope and that it is indeed for Windows 2000? What else could be

> > wrong?

> > How can I get a valid key?

> > --

> > DJH

> > --

> > DJH

>

> You can tell if the key does not match the CD: When the installation

> program rejects it. Try a friend's Win2000 CD instead, making sure

> that it is a different type (e.g. OEM instead of Retail). BTW, this is a

> WinXP newsgroup. You might want to post future questions in

> Win2000.general.

>

>

>

[Guest DJH]

Re: Bad Product Key - Windows 2000

 

I have checked it carefully and am sure I am entering the product key

correctly.

--

DJH

 

 

"Ghostrider" wrote:

>

> DJH wrote:

>

> > I am trying to reinstall Windows 2000 on a PC after having to replace the

> > hard drive. I have the CD that came direct from Microsoft many years ago and

> > a Product Key sticker on the envelope. In the setup, after entering the type

> > of keyboard,etc. it asks for the product key. It does not accept the one

> > that I enter. Is there any way to tell from the key if I have the correct

> > envelope and that it is indeed for Windows 2000? What else could be wrong?

> > How can I get a valid key?

>

>

> One thing to do is to be very careful whilst entering the Product Key.

> Do not, for instance, confuse the letter "O" for the number "0" or the

> letter "B" for the number "8", etc. These things happen when "blocky"

> letters are being used on a tape that does distort or the ink smears,

> etc. The more astute developers avoid using number-character sets that

> can confuse.

>

>

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Bad Product Key - Windows 2000

 

I gave you the Win2000 group name.

No, there isn't any published way to relate a product key

back to its product. Either it works or it doesn't. This is why

it's best to enter all product keys into a spreadsheet (for example)

so that you can't get caught by slipping a CD into the wrong

sleeve.

 

 

"DJH" <passport@trpaul.com> wrote in message

news:60BACE53-7BAC-4979-B823-E48080193438@microsoft.com...

>I don't see any Windows 2000 groups listed in the discussion group index,

>so

> that's why I ended up using XP. I see older versions of Windows, but not

> 2000.

>

> Is there any way to tell from the product key what product it is for?

>

> --

> DJH

>

>

> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>

>>

>> "DJH" <passport@trpaul.com> wrote in message

>> news:1C4654B4-ADD8-482B-95F3-0C10A4257655@microsoft.com...

>> >I am trying to reinstall Windows 2000 on a PC after having to replace

>> >the

>> > hard drive. I have the CD that came direct from Microsoft many years

>> > ago

>> > and

>> > a Product Key sticker on the envelope. In the setup, after entering

>> > the

>> > type

>> > of keyboard,etc. it asks for the product key. It does not accept the

>> > one

>> > that I enter. Is there any way to tell from the key if I have the

>> > correct

>> > envelope and that it is indeed for Windows 2000? What else could be

>> > wrong?

>> > How can I get a valid key?

>> > --

>> > DJH

>> > --

>> > DJH

>>

>> You can tell if the key does not match the CD: When the installation

>> program rejects it. Try a friend's Win2000 CD instead, making sure

>> that it is a different type (e.g. OEM instead of Retail). BTW, this is a

>> WinXP newsgroup. You might want to post future questions in

>> Win2000.general.

>>

>>

>>

[Guest Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Re: Bad Product Key - Windows 2000

 

Then go ask in the Windows 2000 newsgroup that Pegasus gave you.

 

"DJH" <passport@trpaul.com> wrote in message

news:35F93580-76DF-4D3A-A9D9-E1C2D79944F9@microsoft.com...

:I have checked it carefully and am sure I am entering the product key

: correctly.

: --

: DJH

:

:

: "Ghostrider" wrote:

:

: >

: > DJH wrote:

: >

: > > I am trying to reinstall Windows 2000 on a PC after having to replace

the

: > > hard drive. I have the CD that came direct from Microsoft many years

ago and

: > > a Product Key sticker on the envelope. In the setup, after entering

the type

: > > of keyboard,etc. it asks for the product key. It does not accept the

one

: > > that I enter. Is there any way to tell from the key if I have the

correct

: > > envelope and that it is indeed for Windows 2000? What else could be

wrong?

: > > How can I get a valid key?

: >

: >

: > One thing to do is to be very careful whilst entering the Product Key.

: > Do not, for instance, confuse the letter "O" for the number "0" or the

: > letter "B" for the number "8", etc. These things happen when "blocky"

: > letters are being used on a tape that does distort or the ink smears,

: > etc. The more astute developers avoid using number-character sets that

: > can confuse.

: >

: >

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: Bad Product Key - Windows 2000

 

DJH wrote:

> I am trying to reinstall Windows 2000 on a PC after having to replace the

> hard drive. I have the CD that came direct from Microsoft many years ago and

> a Product Key sticker on the envelope. In the setup, after entering the type

> of keyboard,etc. it asks for the product key. It does not accept the one

> that I enter.

 

 

You need to examine the Product Key very carefully. It's awfully

easy to mistake a "B" for an "8," a "G" for a "6," an "S" for a "5," or

a "Q" for a "0" or "O." Fortunately, Microsoft had the good sense to

leave the "1's," "I's," "O's," and "0's" out of the equation. Also, be

sure that your <CapsLock> is _off_ while entering the Product Key --

this isn't supposed to make a difference, but I've seen it do so, on

rare occasions.

 

Troubleshooting Invalid CD Key Error Message During Windows XP Setup

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310637

 

> Is there any way to tell from the key if I have the correct

> envelope and that it is indeed for Windows 2000?

 

 

No, there isn't.

 

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

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