Normally when I re-install XP on a Dell or other large computer maker I will use CD Key Reader to get the vendor key, and use Compression Bin to re-compress the files - so they are OEMBIOS.BI_, etc. I put those four files into the I386 folder.

When I have Service Pack 3 - it doesn't accept the key (that I got above)

If I repeat and do it with SP2 - it works just fine and the install is already activated.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Edited August 27, 200818 yr by fiber

If you have splitstream SP3 into SP2 WinXP original yourself with nLite on Vista, re-make your disk with latest nlite. This is a known bug.

I didn't Slipstream SP3 over my SP2 disk's so that's not the case.

Maybe it's a blacklisted key?

Have you tried just copying the old OEMBIOS files you made?