CD+key+invalid+error+message+during+XP+setup

CD key invalid error message during XP setup

Youʹre trying to install or reinstall Windows XP, but when you enter your product key, you get a message that says

ʺThe CD key which you entered is invalid. Please try again.ʺ

You know youʹre using the right key, and you know you have a legitimate copy of Windows.

Well, there are a number of reasons this could have happened:‐

You did not enter the proper product key.

Anti‐virus software is running during Setup.

The installation compact disc (CD) is damaged.

You are installing Windows XP Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 to a second partition on your hard disk.

You started the Windows XP service pack update Setup program from within Windows XP.

To troubleshoot this issue, perform the following steps in the order that they are listed, testing between each step to determine if the issue is resolved:

1. Verify that the product key is correctly entered into the Product Key boxes.

__**Note :‐**__

If you are unable to locate your product key, or if your product key label is damaged, contact Microsoft Product Support Services.

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2. Verify that your anti‐virus software is not running when you run Windows Setup.

For information about how to disable your anti‐virus software, view the documentation that is included with your anti‐virus program, or contact the manufacturer of your antivirus program.

3. Disable the anti‐virus settings in your computerʹs Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) before you start Setup.

For more information, view the documentation included with your motherboard, or computer, or contact the manufacturer of your motherboard or computer.

4. Verify that your installation media is not damaged.

If it is, replace it.

5. Verify that the computerʹs system date is correct.

For information about how to check the date in your computerʹs CMOS settings, view the documentation included with your motherboard, or computer, or contact the manufacturer of your motherboard or computer.

6. Try starting Windows without loading extra drivers and programs.

This provides as clean an installation environment as possible.

After you ʺclean‐bootʺ your computer, rerun Setup.

For additional information about how to start Windows with a minimal set of drivers, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:‐192926 ([]

How to perform clean‐boot troubleshooting for Windows 98

267288 ([]

How to perform a clean boot in Windows Millennium Edition

310353 ([]

How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP

7. Install the operating system from a command prompt instead of from within the Windows environment.

8. Copy the installation files from the CD to the hard disk, and then run Setup from the hard disk.

9. If you are upgrading from Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), use the ScanDisk tool (Scandskw.exe) to check your hard disk for errors.

Go to :‐

Start, > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > ScanDisk.

For additional information about how to run Setup from a command prompt, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307848 ([]

How to start Setup from MS‐DOS in Windows XP

10. Use the number keys on the keyboard instead of the numeric keypad to type the product key.

When you install an international version of Windows, Setup may use the US keyboard layout rather than the correct international keyboard layout.

For example, letters such as Z and Y that are in one position on the German keyboard are in a different position on the US keyboard.

In this case, type the German Z where the product ID has a Y.

A lot of alternatives but one of them should cure the problem.