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Using Hologram CD with valid key on side of machine to re-install clean Win XP Home RRS feed

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    Hi,
    I have a HP Pavillion with XP Home OEM pre-installed.  I bought a retail (Hologram) CD version of XP Home and wanted to install it in place of the OEM with all the extra bloat that came with it.  I used the COA key that is on the label to validate the install and I get a wrong key entered messaage.

    What the heck can I do to correct this?
    Saturday, August 8, 2009 8:14 PM

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    Hello stosh259,

    As you have discovered, XP product keys are not all created equal.  Product keys are specific to the edition of XP (Home, Pro, Media Center, Tablet, etc.) AND the distribution channel, too (full retail, upgrade retail, OEM, volume).

    In order to install and validate the retail CD, you would have to use the product key that came with the retail CD.
    For great advice on all topics XP, visit http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp
    Saturday, August 8, 2009 9:17 PM