XP Guest fails, says legal, valid, store-bought key "invalid

[fudoki]

Attempting to install a "store-bought" (BestBuys) WinXP Pro CD and key on a Debian "Lenny" host (AMD Phenom 9950 "Black" X4 w/8Gb host). The install reports that the "License Key is Invalid". Have installed with this CD and key twice without difficulty, in fact, a Pentium computer running this copy of XP is running happily right next to me at this very moment! Tried using a different WinXP Pro CD key, also retail, from a machine that is currently in pieces and received the same response.... It's odd. This disk/key combo installed just fine in VMware-just didn't work fit for production (IMHO) afterwards. Both keys I tried are 100% legit and activated instantly with MS, one twice (upgraded the HDD). I'm a former MSCNE, among other things and have nothing but legit MS software, and refuse to try any of the "tricks" I have seen recommended. If it won't install plain vanilla I can't be bothered. This whole exercise is really about being able to advise my clients on VirtualBox. I have an XP machine for games (and non-compliant websites) next to every Linux powerhouse already - only use XP for games myself... Have not tried 64-bit XP, or XP "Home" yet, just plain 32-bit XP Pro. I have no 3D accel in the VM, no floppy, and only basic CD access. 12Gb available disk, formatted in NTFS, and 320Mb system memory.

I assume the UTF-8 character set being used in "Lenny" cannot have an effect on the VM, and that within the install the VM sees 1252, not UTF-8.

Anyone have any ideas or heard of such a thing? I'm baffled after 5 hours of reading, searching, and making zero progress. Must sleep...

Thx in advance for any help on this....

[dmcgraw]

When you say "store bought", is this a retail version of XP or an OEM version that came with a computer?

[fudoki]

As I stated in my post, retail, purchased at BestBuy to upgrade the WinXP Home that came on a couputer I had bought. Both WinXP Pro license keys that I tried to use are from retail packages. I also tried a couple of OEM keys as well, which also were rejected, but this was only a small surprise; since these keys had worked fine installing on actual computers and under VMware. VMware installed fine with any of these keys, just isn't worth using (IMHO), while VirtualBox is rejecting the keys outright. Microsoft says the keys are fine, and it's "a problem with the third party product", i.e. VirtualBox.

[Sasquatch]

There are a few things I can think of that might be a problem, and one thing you can try as work around, sort of.

First, I think that the disc you're using is for a corporate XP Pro, instead a retail/OEM one. Have you tried a different CD?

If it is in fact the right CD and it still won't install, maybe you can try and create an ISO from it (dd if=/dev/sr0 of=/home/user/winxp.iso). You can also try nLite, but that requires a Windows machine (which you have, but it's not the host, not that big a deal though).

The last thing I can think of, is a typo in the key when you copy it. I doubt you make such a error, but you never know.

[fudoki]

Thx for the reply and suggestions. The CD is the genuine retail article with the cool, multi-colored, hologram-like logo and all.

I had thought about the ISO suggestion, thanks for the actual command, it saves me hunting it! I'm going to give it a try. The license key is being read from the certificate that came in the box, and was checked for accuracy - it just is not being accepted...

As a test, I tried installing a copy of WinXP Home from the full-install disk that came with a 2002 HP Laptop - it IS a corporate CD. I used the laptop key right off the sticker (put Win2000 on the laptop long ago to enjoy decent performance ; ) ) and it installed without a hitch and runs beautifully! I accepted the defaults, upgraded to SP2, installed Spybot and Avast, etc. It just works like a charm, looks great, is as fast as on a native box (Pentium class), and everything worked without any trouble at all.

I am very pleased with VirtualBox!

Still, I want to run down the XP Pro issue, as a matter of technical pride at this point. Will post results here.

Any further ideas or suggestions are welcomed and appreciated!