Hi Everyone,

I have an Acer Travelmate 250 that I am trying to install Windows XP Pro on and it won't accept my COA. I do not have the original Acer install disk as the laptop was bought second hand but I have a disk with an OEM install of XP Pro but the COA on the bottom of the laptop is not accepted.

Could anyone please tell me how to get XP Pro installed on this machine as my son is having it for his Xmas present?

Many thanks in advance.

Please read this link and verify which of the options refers to your situation.

Post back for others to assist you if you are not sure.

kind regards,

It's quite likely that the original OS was XP Home, not XP Pro, so the key from the computer will not work with the XP Pro you are trying to install. You will need to buy a XP Home CD or a XP Pro key (from MS).

Ztucker He mentions that pro was on it and that the disk is pro.

@Geo quite frequently disks as well as serials numbers are specific to the manufacturer so I think that a serial number from acer would probably be useful only on a acer disk. Pertaining the OEM disk, is that for a specific brand (such as dell) or is it a cheaper serial number of a retail copy? If it is particular to a manufacturer that disk can only be used on that brand of computer. This is both a legality and in addition sometimes using such a disk is locked out of being used on other brands . Either way I'm almost certain that only the serial number that came with the disk can be on used on that disk and can be used only on 1 computer at a time unless it is a multi license serial number. In short if you are having a serial number issue then there is a legal reason why you can't do what you are trying to do so you will have to obtain a retail or system builder serial number. Perhaps acer will send you a disk without a serial number & you will then have to use the number that came with the computer. If they do you might have to pay a nominal fee for the disk and for shipping.