Resolved Windows XP install will not accept product key from HP supplied disk

HP DX2450 Microtower. This system comes with Windows XP install disk and restore disk(among others). I wanted to perform a repair install on XP. Inserted the HP restore disk, system reported it sees a valid restore disk and ask for the Windows install disk. I put in the HP Windows XP disk, when it got to "install Windows" , I chose "repair an existing XP installation ". When it finished installing, it ask for the product ID. I looked on the CD, in the i386 folder/unattend.txt, bottom line is the product ID. When I put in this key, it tells me it's not a valid key. Now I'm stuck. How can this not be a valid ID when it's on the same disk used to install Windows, and what can I do now?

Admin: I removed your product key/ID. Not a good idea to share that with the world would you think?

 

Can you get into Windows at all? If so, Download Belarc Advisor (it is FREE) and run it and see what product key it shows. Then try that one.

 

No Mr. Bill,
it gets to the point I'm supposed to put in the CD key and won't go any further without the correct key.

 

Hiren's boot CD has the tools to find it.