Windows doesn't need to tell the future. XP OEM, retail and corp have different media. If you install with retail, you can only enter a retail cd key, either during setup or after. If you install with OEM, you can only enter a OEM cd key, either during setup or after. If you install with volume license, you can only enter a volume license cd key and has to be done during setup. ok... as it happens so often, you have deleted the important part of the quote."user_hidden" said: "... OEM keys ... don't work.... VLK keys ... should still work ... unless blacklisted" ... and this assumes that the key is rejected / doesn't work - which is not what the OP asked... Yes, the type of media might make a difference but unless stated otherwise, I assume it's retail. FWIW: Mine is retail and it does require a key even after slipstreaming SP3. We'll probably just have to wait for a couple of days for somebody to take a look at it.