How to use Product Key?

Hey there.

I am using T61p... Pre-installed Window is really messy so I'd like to reinstall window using Product Key bottom of my TP by myself.
However I couldn't use my Product Key while I was installing Window XP. It was very same version Window XP Professional and it never stop telling me INVALID product key!!! What?? I have a genuine product key bottom of my TP.

So,, do you guys know how to solve this problem??

 

The Window XP Professional CD is downloaded through internet... so, I think this downloaded Window is problem then, where do I get proper Window XP Professional CD??

 

You didn't do a clean install did you...? What I mean by that is did you follow one of the guides here on this site on how to do a clean install...?

 

I know the clean istall guide tennismaster.. What I wonder is... if there is the other way to get the CD.

 

Try this: http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml

 

There are different versions of the Windows XP CD: retail, oem and vlk. Keys meant for one version won't work with the others.

 

Check out the following thread regarding clean re-installations

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=144349

Look at option A and try to use the ThinkVantage Base Software Administrator, which should give you freedom to choose what Lenovo software and drivers are to be installed, when doing a re-installation of the operating system.

 

But the key printed on the bottom of your Tpad is fake - it will not work with anything...The only way to install with the embedded Lenovo key is to use the clean install guide method, or to use the restore disks from Lenovo (which install the original Lenovo image, already activated). Otherwise, you need both an install CD, and a key that works with the version on the CD.

 

The key on your machine is not fake, but that doesn't mean it will work with any XP CD either.

 

This is untrue. I've had several reports in my clean install thread of people using the key from the bottom of the laptop to install Windows XP.

 

the key under the machine is working ok for XP, even you load with the xp pro. I think win xp now just take any right key, It will let you register and update windows. the key for ultimate vista will work fine for xp pro. that is what I used.
I used the known good xp pro cd, It was copied from a friend.

 

The key under my machine for Vista worked fine. I'm authenticated and everything.

 

Interesting... Must have changed the routine when they worked the kinks out of WGA. I wonder if the key will work on another notebook, or if they have a way to link it to the one it is stuck on.

 

Is there a non-thinkpad version of this guide?