Stuck on inputting product key

[wilson]

:angry:Hi all, I'm new to these forums so not so sure on what sort of assistance I am going to get here. I've read all forums and have not found anyone to seem to have the same issue as me.

I had a laptop that I bought off a friend. It had windows 98 on it.

I uploaded windows vista to it and then stupidly lost the disc.

Everything was fine for a few months and I realised I had just about had enough with windows vista so I borrowed a Windows Xp home edition from a friend. I uploaded it all the way till the point of inputting the product key.

At this point he told me he hasn't got the product key :|.

So I had Installed windows xp home without a product key, and Cannot workout how to Basically, get rid of it.

I tried loading a Windows xp professional disc ( my own), ( and yes i had the product key for once:) )

But the Windows xp Home edition product key input would not dissapear.

That is where I am up to so far.

Really looking for some helpful assistance. Thank you all very much in advance.

[Alan2273]

When you put the XP Pro disk in to install it did you format the drive?.

[MANEMAN]

Right on. And a correct evalution Alan.

Customer has a genuine copy of Windows XP Professional, with a genuine key. - Format the drive, Install XP, Validate with Microsoft. Activate. Problem solved.

Everything seemingly "above board" and legal. - "Easy Peasy"

Cant really see why there would have been any need to trawl the internet to find a solution in this particular case. Pretty well clear cut. Why "Anger" came into the first line of the paragraph I dont know. Although at times even the most savvy, and most legal of us become overwrought when faced with computer problems.

May be worth a visit to the website of the laptop manufacturer to obtain the correct drivers for XP Pro before installation.

"Stupidly losing the Disk" may have just unnerved you there for a while.

Format the disk, get the correct drivers, re-install XP Pro, all will be well. - Calm.

Hope that was the helpful assistance you were looking for.

John.

[wilson]

Right on. And a correct evalution Alan.

Customer has a genuine copy of Windows XP Professional, with a genuine key. - Format the drive, Install XP, Validate with Microsoft. Activate. Problem solved.

Everything seemingly "above board" and legal. - "Easy Peasy"

Cant really see why there would have been any need to trawl the internet to find a solution in this particular case. Pretty well clear cut. Why "Anger" came into the first line of the paragraph I dont know. Although at times even the most savvy, and most legal of us become overwrought when faced with computer problems.

May be worth a visit to the website of the laptop manufacturer to obtain the correct drivers for XP Pro before installation.

"Stupidly losing the Disk" may have just unnerved you there for a while.

Format the disk, get the correct drivers, re-install XP Pro, all will be well. - Calm.

Hope that was the helpful assistance you were looking for.

John.

Hello John, Thank you for the reply :)

I formatted the drive nearly two weeks ago and tried all of the above situations.

I formatted the drive, Then tried installing xp home.

Once my mate had told me that he had not found the product key...I was....more than angry.

Once that had happened I inserted the windows xp pro CD, Of which I do have the product key of.

It is still stuck on the case of inputting the windows xp home product key.

Could you please inform me of a way of formatting my hard-drive through system bios etc.

I went into bios and tried order of booting from disc.. Still did nothing

[Alan2273]

If the XP home disk booted off the CD drive to do original install, then the XP pro should boot as well, unless you have changed the boot order.

What make and model number is your laptop.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

What is your partition layout - do you still have multiple partitions, e.g. one with your unfinishd XP Home installation?

[wilson]

If the XP home disk booted off the CD drive to do original install, then the XP pro should boot as well, unless you have changed the boot order.

What make and model number is your laptop.

I understand that the xp disk should be booting...But it is not....

I can restart the computer and everything...

When I load the computer it comes up with the blue background and the windows xp home logo etc like it would normally when booting a computer but it isn't fully installed.

It's partially installed....

And also the laptop is a HP DV6500

[wilson]

What is your partition layout - do you still have multiple partitions, e.g. one with your unfinishd XP Home installation?

I'm sorry but I have absolutely no idea what you mean about partition layout...

I know a little about computers but I'm no computer wizz... Sorry

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I'm sorry but I have absolutely no idea what you mean about partition layout...

I know a little about computers but I'm no computer wizz... Sorry

Ok, I understand.

I have re-read your earlier posts, and it seems that you have not actually started to install XP Pro - is that correct?

Can you boot your computer with the XP Pro disk in it, then reformat, and install XP Pro? (Assuming that the boot order is still CD first.)

[pa1916]

First i must say i don't how a LAPTOP running W98 could EVER RUN VISTA you wouldn't have the RAM,you would require at least 1GB of Ram for even Vista Basic and there would would be a Processor problem,infact i don't know how your even running WXP never mind WXP Pro.

On install WXP will format in DOS with FAT32 at the end of install it will give you the option to upgrade to NTFS.

Also the Hard drive will be to small.

[MANEMAN]

How can we possibly be telling him his hard drive is too small when we do not know the size of it ?

Or if the friend from whom he purchased it had not already put a large capacity drive in ?

The HP DV6500 came with Vista installed as standard !!! Also with 2GB of RAM, and a 2Ghz Processor. Even the original drive was 120GB.

Drivers for this model are here Wilson: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/ProductList.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3369402&taskId=135

More info here: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/ProductList.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3369402&taskId=135

I do wish people such as pa1916 would do a bit of background research before posting.

John.

[MANEMAN]

Wilson. Do go back and try to answer Pat's question:

PAT SAID: have re-read your earlier posts, and it seems that you have not actually started to install XP Pro - is that correct?

Can you boot your computer with the XP Pro disk in it, then reformat, and install XP Pro? (Assuming that the boot order is still CD first.)

I will not quote the prices of fish in Cornwall at the moment to cloud your issues. Let's hope nobody else comes up with irrelevant statements.

Answers required. Not statements ?????

(Teasy ol' bugger I am :P :) )

John.

[pa1916]

How can we possibly be telling him his hard drive is too small when we do not know the size of it ?

Or if the friend from whom he purchased it had not already put a large capacity drive in ?

The HP DV6500 came with Vista installed as standard !!! Also with 2GB of RAM, and a 2Ghz Processor. Even the original drive was 120GB.

Drivers for this model are here Wilson: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/ProductList.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3369402&taskId=135

More info here: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/ProductList.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3369402&taskId=135

I do wish people such as pa1916 would do a bit of background research before posting.

John.

Exscuse me he said it came WITH W98 so on that comment that is what i based my reply on

no i did not look up the spec of his computer,anyway if the spec was as you said it would have not run W98,on my old computer W98 started to lock up over 324MB of RAM

[MANEMAN]

The person concerned (Wilson) asked a question to which he is hoping for an answer to solve his problem. He has been very up-front about his lack of knowledge when it comes to computers.

With this sort of person (Who is trying to learn) It is important to try give correct information. Period.

You gave no answer at all that was relevant to answering his question. Only some of your inner thoughts towards the HP DV6500 which you could not be bothered to look up the specifications for.

Now you expect us to believe that Windows 98 will not run with a capacity of above 324 MB and expect both old and new computer users to believe this as a "Technical Truth", when some of us with removal drive bays are still running "98" with 3GB and more of RAM installed ??????

C'mon. - There are "New Computer Users" reading forums who take this stuff that we write as "Gospel truth" because they think they are dealing with people who know what they are talking about.

I bet you are - - - - - - - - - With yourself perhaps ?

Let's just re-state Pat's question once again and hopefully cut through the timewasting B.S, help the guy out and avoid any further unpleasantness.

PAT SAID: have re-read your earlier posts, and it seems that you have not actually started to install XP Pro - is that correct?

Can you boot your computer with the XP Pro disk in it, then reformat, and install XP Pro? (Assuming that the boot order is still CD first.)

[wilson]

I'm sorry but I have absolutely no idea what you mean about partition layout...

I know a little about computers but I'm no computer wizz... Sorry

Ok, I understand.

I have re-read your earlier posts, and it seems that you have not actually started to install XP Pro - is that correct?

Can you boot your computer with the XP Pro disk in it, then reformat, and install XP Pro? (Assuming that the boot order is still CD first.)

Thank you for the reply.

Sorry for the late reply on my behalf.

That is correct, I have not started to install xp pro.

I've tried booting the computer with the xp disk in it,

But I am really unsure of how to reformat my drive through system BIOS etc, As I cannot get past the inputting of validation key,

And yes the boot order is still CD first.

thank you for the time mate.

[wilson]

First i must say i don't how a LAPTOP running W98 could EVER RUN VISTA you wouldn't have the RAM,you would require at least 1GB of Ram for even Vista Basic and there would would be a Processor problem,infact i don't know how your even running WXP never mind WXP Pro.

On install WXP will format in DOS with FAT32 at the end of install it will give you the option to upgrade to NTFS.

Also the Hard drive will be to small.

Well before telling me it can't read my post.

IT DID.

It did not have windows 98 as an original,sorry not sure of the word, Umm.... System?

It was vista stock.

he had problems with it,

installed 98.

When i bought it off him,

i hadn't used vista before so when I bought it I did not know what I was going to be in for...

It really didn't suit me...

So After I borrowed windows xp home off my mate,

And found out he didnt have product key,

I tried installing my windows xp pro that I had found,

But was still stuck on the windows xp home product key....

[wilson]

How can we possibly be telling him his hard drive is too small when we do not know the size of it ?

Or if the friend from whom he purchased it had not already put a large capacity drive in ?

The HP DV6500 came with Vista installed as standard !!! Also with 2GB of RAM, and a 2Ghz Processor. Even the original drive was 120GB.

Drivers for this model are here Wilson: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/ProductList.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3369402&taskId=135

More info here: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/ProductList.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3369402&taskId=135

I do wish people such as pa1916 would do a bit of background research before posting.

John.

Thank you for all the comments John, Appreciate helping me out in this hunt of a solution....

But I can't install the drivers until I have fixed up the installation?

Correct? Sorry i'm really not sure

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Do I understand this correctly: even if you boot the computer with the XP Pro install disk in it, you still get the product key input screen from XP Home?

You cannot format your HD from the BIOS; at least I have never seen a BIOS that has this option.

Myabe you should create a bootable disk that allows you to format your HD? Have a look at http://www.bootdisk.com/

Don't hesitate to ask for more specific instructions if you are unsure about how to proceed.

P.S. does that laptop has a floppy drive? Or just a CD drive?

[wilson]

Do I understand this correctly: even if you boot the computer with the XP Pro install disk in it, you still get the product key input screen from XP Home?

You cannot format your HD from the BIOS; at least I have never seen a BIOS that has this option.

Myabe you should create a bootable disk that allows you to format your HD? Have a look at http://www.bootdisk.com/

Don't hesitate to ask for more specific instructions if you are unsure about how to proceed.

P.S. does that laptop has a floppy drive? Or just a CD drive?

Yes,

that is correct, Evan when booting with the xp disk in, It comes up with the xp home product key input....

I had heard once of someone formatting a HD from BIOS, But have never really seen anyone do it etc, Just really throwing out options that someone may know about.

If i create the bootable disk won't it just be the same as my windows xp home disk? Really just asking for info as i'm a little grey in this area.

And no it does not have a floppy drive, Only a CD drive.

thank you for some more info.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

If i create the bootable disk won't it just be the same as my windows xp home disk?

That is actually quite possible; when installing Windows, there are several reboots, and the Windows install process makes sure that the reboot can proceed - even with the Windows install disk still inserted.

It is possible that a bootable Linux disk (Knoppix?) may overcome this, but I'm not familiar with Linux, so hopefully someone else can answer this.

I also wonder if there isn't any way to abort that Windows installation that is still running? (Esc, F3, F8, Ctrl+Alt+Delete, Ctrl+C, Shift+F11, ...)

[wilson]

If i create the bootable disk won't it just be the same as my windows xp home disk?

That is actually quite possible; when installing Windows, there are several reboots, and the Windows install process makes sure that the reboot can proceed - even with the Windows install disk still inserted.

It is possible that a bootable Linux disk (Knoppix?) may overcome this, but I'm not familiar with Linux, so hopefully someone else can answer this.

I also wonder if there isn't any way to abort that Windows installation that is still running? (Esc, F3, F8, Ctrl+Alt+Delete, Ctrl+C, Shift+F11, ...)

I pressed all of the suggested buttons and nothing happened, But..

I pressed F10,

And I could get to the CMD,

Is there possibly anything I could do from the CMD?

[MANEMAN]

:) Go right back to basics.

(1) Format the Hard Disk

(2) Re-install Windows XP Pro

.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.

HOW ?

Download the ISO file for a bootable CD which will allow you to format the disk.

You can obtain that via here: http://www.partitionwizard.com/download.html (It's Free ! :)

(Choose the "Home" edition. - The others are demos which eventually you would have to pay for.)

Burn the ISO file to a CD. If you are not sure how to do that, there is a nice little ISO burner here: http://www.ntfs.com/iso-burning.htm (Also free !! :) )

Place a blank CD in your burner and choose a write speed of about 4x or 8x and burn the CD.

Once the CD is burnt, write on it so that you can remember what it is.

Place your newly burnt bootable CD in the HP Laptop and boot from it. You'll see a lot of ol' writing come up. - Just let it do it's thing. :P

Once it has settled down, search around a bit until you hit on "Format".

Now choose to format Drive C:/

You should now have a nice clean drive to re-install your Windows XP Pro upon.

If you hit on any problems, come on back and we will try to help you further.

John.

[wilson]

:) Go right back to basics.

(1) Format the Hard Disk

(2) Re-install Windows XP Pro

.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.

HOW ?

Download the ISO file for a bootable CD which will allow you to format the disk.

You can obtain that via here: http://www.partitionwizard.com/download.html (It's Free ! :)

(Choose the "Home" edition. - The others are demos which eventually you would have to pay for.)

Burn the ISO file to a CD. If you are not sure how to do that, there is a nice little ISO burner here: http://www.ntfs.com/iso-burning.htm (Also free !! :) )

Place a blank CD in your burner and choose a write speed of about 4x or 8x and burn the CD.

Once the CD is burnt, write on it so that you can remember what it is.

Place your newly burnt bootable CD in the HP Laptop and boot from it. You'll see a lot of ol' writing come up. - Just let it do it's thing. :P

Once it has settled down, search around a bit until you hit on "Format".

Now choose to format Drive C:/

You should now have a nice clean drive to re-install your Windows XP Pro upon.

If you hit on any problems, come on back and we will try to help you further.

John.

Maneman/ John,

Just....

THANK YOU! :)

Thank you to everyone else who has helped me along this aswell.

will get back within 12 hours on how I have gone with this,

thanks,

Mitch.

[MANEMAN]

Is there possibly anything I could do from the CMD?

Yep:

Format C:\ /q 

The 'C:' is the drive letter and the '\q' means quick

You can try that first if you like.

That Partition disk is sure worth the download though. ;)

John.

[wilson]

Is there possibly anything I could do from the CMD?

Yep:

Format C:\ /q 

The 'C:' is the drive letter and the '\q' means quick

You can try that first if you like.

That Partition disk is sure worth the download though. ;)

John.

I tried doing the command from the CMD,

although it said C: is an invalid drive :S?

Would I just be best to do the previous thing by downloding the boot disk?