Verified answer

Does it allow for you to phone into microsoft and get validation there? I've done this before (maybe in the exact same situation) and the helpful agent* gave me a code to enter that worked.

*The agent basically needed assurance that you have a valid product key (on the computer case) and have a legit CD (mine was borrowed, they were told that) and that I needed to reformat due to viruses. She was understanding and made this work. (Your experience may vary.)

EDIT: Reading Tony's answer I have to add that both the key and the borrowed CD were XP Home, which the agent also knew.

There were about 8 different kinds of windows xp cds, not counting included service packs (between retail, OEM, professional, home, media center, upgrade, ...) so the key you have is for your particular disc, and won't work with another type of windows xp disc.

Call microsoft, and they can help you out. They don't collect any personal info. It's not a big deal.

you're going to have to call Microsoft and or email them and they will have to issue you a new key but you will have to pay for the OS and key because you will have to validated it

so you can download sp 1 2 and 3 and all updates

he may have different verison of xp

you have home

pro

student

"Borrowing an XP disk" was a big mistake.

Order replacement XP Recovery disks from your computer manufacturer, by PC Model number.

And, no, it likely won't be free.

previous suggestions are good.

You might want to check first and make sure you entered your code right. Is it possibly you've entered a zero instead of a letter "O" for example, or vice versa?

if it's wrong it wrong - you may have coppied it down incorrectly, or maybe a product key for a different cd

the most possibility is your application edition is too low to supports the winxp ,maybe you can update it to try again .

http://www.partitionwizard.com/