Reinstalling Windows XP - Please help!

[aaah80]

Hello,

 

I wonder if anybody can help me, please.

 

I have a netbook (small, low spec laptop) which keeps on freezing. It will not respond to any keyboard input (including Ctrl+Alt+Del) or the mouse, etc. The only thing I can do is hold down the power button to cut the power then restart.

 

I am trying to reinstall Windows to solve this problem. Because the computer is quite low spec, I am concerned that Vista or higher/later might be too heavy, and besides I don't really want to spend money on an OS.

 

Anyway, the computer came with Windows XP Professional Edition installed when new and it has a certificate sticker on the bottom. However, because the netbook is old and has been carried around a lot, half of the product key is worn out and cannot be read.

 

I have gone into the registry to find the product key and I have entered this but the installer says that it is not a valid key! Other key finder programs have told me the same product key so I am confident it is right. I have typed it a number of times and checked it carefully so I am sure that it is not a typo. How can the registry key not be right?

 

So, I have tried to find new product keys using keygens and none of those are accepted either. Why is this?

 

So, I all I want to do is reinstall Windows XP on a computer with Windows XP including an authentic certificate sticker.

 

What should I do? Please help! Thank you!

[Synapse]

Hi,

 

There are only two possibilities, either your version of XP is incorrect or the key is incorrect.

 

What version are you trying to install, and where did it come from?

 

Was the original version installed from new, and do the parts of the key you found in the registry correspond to the parts you can see on the sticker?

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, further to this, you have asked this question on at least one other forum and received advice there:-

 

http://computerhelpforums.net/threads/reinstalling-windows-xp-please-help.35645/

 

Do have a look at the key you have obtained and see if there is any match to the sticker as Synapse suggested, other than that, follow the good advice to ring Microsoft, do not mention the use of the key gens.

 

This post is to let others know you have asked elsewhere so conflicting advice can be avoided.

 

Nev.

[Synapse]

Just had a look at the other forum response......

 

At least two versions of XP Professional are available to the general public, OEM and Retail. Versions are almost (if not) identical to the user, but product keys are NOT interchangeable.

 

Then there are the OEM modified versions which tend to have an extra folder on the install CD to brand the installation.

 

Bottom line is that if you have not used the original media supplied with the computer, it is likely you have the incorrect version.