danidar Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littlebr00k Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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