I lost all my cds and my pc screwed up

[danidar]

Hello all,

i need your advice.

I lost all the cds that came with an IBM thinkpad, i don't know where, in my moving surely... anyway, now my laptop screwed up and has to be reinstalled, i installed a windows version on it, using the key that is on the sticker; it installs but then asks me to activate. and then when i try to activate, it say key not valid... why?? I don't understand? will i have to buy another windows.. i don't think ibm will remake the cds from the laptop.. since now it's lenovo that handles it.

i am confused and i need to have the system up and running.

bye and thank you.

[Littlebr00k]

The reason the key is wrong, is due to you installing a retail copy of xp with a OEM (Original Equipment Manufactuers) CD key. To use the key on the laptop you need to get hold of a an OEM disk and install it using your key or buy a new copy of xp to keep yourself legitimate. I have read that it is possible to change a retail copy to an OEM copy and vice versa by editing a file but I have not tried this so don't know if this would be another possibility for you.

Edited August 10, 2006 by Littlebr00k