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I have been working on getting things set up on my new computer for a month. A screw up through ignorance meant I have registered my old computer with a XP home instead of registering my new computer. This meant I had to purchase another copy of XP and I waited for 3 1/2 weeks for that. Which turns out, UPS screwed up royally, and I am now waiting for a return of the money I spent on that. Today, I went to Staples to buy a copy, which cost me $216.00 US to buy, instead of the $142 I planned on from the order which got screwed up by UPS.

Anyhow, I have the first version I used installed on the new system. It was an OEM version, and now it is asking for an OEM code to activate. It locks up and demands the code so that I cannot do ANYTHING besides activate Windows or reboot/shutdown. Since I purchased the full version this time, I tried the key in my newest version on the new system. It rejects it, as it says it isn't a key for the right version. I assumed I could put the new disc in, boot from disc, format the HD, and install this new version of XP Home over the OEM version I purchased weeks ago which was installed on it.

However, when I attempt to, the keyboard and mouse work perfectly fine when I click on the required buttons to get the menu to pop up so I can click which drive to boot from. Yet, the keyboard stops working the moment BEFORE I recieve the message "Click any key to boot from CD". Which means, I cannot boot from CD, and I cannot install this new version of Windows. Which means, I honestly do not know if there is ANY way for me to use my new computer now.

Would anyone have any idea how to get around this? Help would be most appreciated, as really, I am becoming incredibly frustrated at having this brand new tower being rendered useless except as a $500 paperweight, with $280 worth of software going to waste.

Note: Preferably, I would like to remove any instances of Windows from my new system altogether, and install the new version if I could. I don't know if that is possible now or not? If that would happen, I can use the new disc to install everything, and use the new code from the package and it should work fine.

It sounds like you are using a USB keyboard.

If I am correct in that assumption, see if a friend has a PS/2 keyboard and mouse that you can borrow or go to Walmart and pick up the cheapest one they have (~$10) and then you should be fine.

Once the install is finished then you can connect the USB keyboard and mouse and be done.

Let me know if you are not using a USB keyboard though.

Definately a USB keyboard. Ravager and Syberis spent a few hours last night giving me advice. I moved the new HD into my old system which I am using now, and went into Safe Mode to format all 3 partitions on it. They told me to put the new HD back into the new tower, and see if I can change the boot priorities so it will boot from my CD-Rom drives before the HD and install XP Home that way. If that doesn't work....I will probably check the prices for a second keyboard as you have suggested tomorrow after work. A $10 keyboard is better than me paying money to call Microsuck support.

I take it there isn't a way to remove all existance of an install of an OS from a computer then? My old one has now XP Pro and Home on it. If I could, I'd like to delete the Pro install before sending it to my ex, as she will have no use for it. Not to mention that might help me with my problem. I honestly don't know whether the computer will still lock up and demand a code for the first version of XP Home I put on their even with the new one and a legal code for it being used over it.

[QUOTE=Magrus]Definately a USB keyboard. Ravager and Syberis spent a few hours last night giving me advice. I moved the new HD into my old system which I am using now, and went into Safe Mode to format all 3 partitions on it. They told me to put the new HD back into the new tower, and see if I can change the boot priorities so it will boot from my CD-Rom drives before the HD and install XP Home that way. If that doesn't work....I will probably check the prices for a second keyboard as you have suggested tomorrow after work. A $10 keyboard is better than me paying money to call Microsuck support. [/quote]
Your boot priorities can be set within your BIOS.

Some computers will also respond to a keyboard input (e.g. spacebar) but each computer is different.

[QUOTE=Magrus]I take it there isn't a way to remove all existance of an install of an OS from a computer then? My old one has now XP Pro and Home on it. If I could, I'd like to delete the Pro install before sending it to my ex, as she will have no use for it. Not to mention that might help me with my problem. I honestly don't know whether the computer will still lock up and demand a code for the first version of XP Home I put on their even with the new one and a legal code for it being used over it. [/QUOTE]
If you have re-partitioned the entire disk and formatted it then there will no longer be any information contained upon that disk.

Keep in mind that companies like Sony, Dell, etc. create a 5GB partition where a restore image is contained. If you do not wish to retain that information (probably not) then you will also need to delete that partition and reclaim the space into the main partition.

Hmm, it was Dell Reinstall disc I purchased and used to install what I just tried to delete. I'll need to format the drive to undo the partitions and such then to get rid of that?

[QUOTE=Magrus]Hmm, it was Dell Reinstall disc I purchased and used to install what I just tried to delete. I'll need to format the drive to undo the partitions and such then to get rid of that?[/QUOTE]
You are correct sir.