Invalid CD key error
 

Hi,

I am in the middle of installing windows 2000 on one of my computers and during the setup it crashed after i had entered the product key and it didnt say anything about the key being invalid, then i restarted becuase it had crashed and when i get to the point to enter my product key i get a message saying invalid product key. I have checked the prouct key many times and it is all correct.

Any ideas why this is happening?

Thanks, Chris

Not sure why it would do that but have you tried reformating and reinstalling?

im not sure about windows2000 but i know microsoft has been trying real hard to stop piracy for windows xp so if you use the same cd key on more then one computer it might not work. could that be it? install that same copy of windows on more then one computer? I kinda doubt thats the problem but its just a thought.

If you're using Windows 2000, and you're most definitely typing it in right, you're most likely using a key that's not a match with the disk. If you're absolutely positive it's the right key, it really wouldn't do that for any reason and you should probably call Microsoft (provided your software is valid and that's the original computer that it was installed on.)

This advice comes from Martel who makes a living as a computer tech.

Another thing that could be a problem is you're installing Windows 2000.

As Sage mentioned, the key may not match with the disk you're using. I know with Windows XP, if you try using a corporate key on a single user version, then it won't work, and vice versa. I haven't used Windows 2000 a lot, so I don't know if it has different versions like XP, but it's a possibility.

The product code is the one that came with the computer and its a windows 2000 pro 1-2 cpu OEM key, but i'm not sure what the disk is that i'm using.

Chris

It's probably the disk then. Because it's pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to get an invalid CD key when you're using the right key and the right disk.

Unless you're Chris H and installing Windows 2000 :lol: - Hope you get it figured out!

find the system recovery disc and reinstall windows from that. Sounds like you've got a non-OEM disc and are trying to install using an OEM code.

Ok, i decided to ditch instaling windows 2000 on it and install ubuntu 6.06 instead but i wanted to use the computer to encode/stream media to my other computers over a wired network, does anybody know of any good programs to use?

Chris