Cancelling reinstallation

[jml1911a1]

I'm attempting to reinstall Windows XP Pro (mistakenly with a XP Home CD) on a client's computer, and got all the way to where I need to enter the Product Key. The client doesn't have a COA sticker on his computer, as it was upgraded from WinME by another tech support company (I think using a volume license, so the client has no CD, either). I found the Product Key with KeyDigger, but when trying to enter it in, it says that the key is invalid. (I'm guessing this is because I used an XP Home CD to install it, and the key I have is for XP Pro.)

Is it possible to cancel or undo the installation, so I can get his computer back to the way it was and start over?

Thanks in advance!

 

[linney]

Use the Recovery Console to replace the Boot.ini file with Boot.bak or get a Boot.ini file that doesn't have XP Setup as the Default Operating System. This will the stop the Boot-Setup loop. (These are System and Hidden files).

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

HOW TO: Edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP (Q289022)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q289/0/22.asp

See instructions at the end of this article.

316417 - "Setup Cannot Upgrade Some Settings" Error Message When You Reinstall Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316417&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

A Discussion About the Bootcfg Command and Its Uses

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q291/9/80.asp

(You want your original XP Pro install, not the default setting of the Home repair/setup option.)

Look at the FixBoot option from Recovery Console too.

 

[jml1911a1]

Thanks, linney, but that doesn't seem to do it. Boot.ini lists Windows XP Home as my OS, and that's it--nothing mentioning Setup.

Any other ideas? I'm getting to the point where I just might have to tell the client that they need to purchase Win XP again (I'm not sure their copy conformet to the EULA, anyway.).

Thanks!

 

[bcastner]

It is unclear if you did a repair reinstallation, or a "clean" install.

See if the notes here help:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=312569

 

[bcastner]

I should note that if you did a repair reinstall, setup would have noted that the installed product ID for XP Pro and the source CD (XP Home) had different PIDs and would not allow the setup to continue.

Thus a "clean" install seems likely, and the contents of the original installation are gone.

 

[jml1911a1]

OK, I got the installation CD from the client, along with the product key. It's WinXP Home, and the key they have is the one I was using, so I'm not sure why I'm getting "Invalid Product Key" errors when I enter the PK, nor why my boot CD (UBCD4Win) is saying that it's WinXP Pro.

In the midst of reinstalling (non-nuke) now using their CD...

 

[jml1911a1]

OK, same problem: When I try to enter the product key, I get the error: "The product key you entered is invalid."

I think there's a problem in reconciling the Product Key with the Product ID: The product ID seems to be for a volume license (50293-000-1234567-12345).

Is that possible?

Thanks again for everyone's help!

 

[jml1911a1]

Is it possible to skip entering the PK in that part of the reinstall and dealing with it at Activation? (Calling MS.)

 

[bcastner]

http://www.petri.co.il/use_oem_version_to_upgrade_xp.htm

 

[jml1911a1]

bcastner,

Sounds a bit dangerous: Will I get through the install process, but not be able to activate? If so, that would defeat the purpose of the reinstall. Do you have any personal experience with this one?

I'm a little nervous about it...

 

[bcastner]

Find your setupp.ini file in the i386 directory on your Windows XP CD. Open it up, and compare the Pid value shown to the Petri discussion.

 

[linney]

000-1234567-12345" Those numbers seem a bit non-random to be genuine, but I wouldn't really know. 1-2-3-4 etc. is something which seems not quite right?

If you contact the live person at the other end of the Activation by phone support they can soon tell you whether the copy of XP (and the Product Key) is a valid one.

 

[jml1911a1]

I'm pretty sure that the PK is valid (I have the box, PK sticker, and CD), I just don't think the PID is right, as if it were changed by a virus or something.

I would love to contact the live person at Activation: I would love to GET to Activation.

bcastner: I'll give it a shot.

 

[jml1911a1]

Client's CD: Retail

My CD: OEM.

Should I have known that was a problem? Probably: Hindsight being 20/20.

I restarted Setup (booted from CD and started Repair reinstall), and all was fine--took the PK.

Thanks all, for the help!

(Incidentally, I think bcastner's solution would have taken care of it.)