I have an old computer and I want to install xp on it so I can get it running and then I want to donate it. The problem is when I installed xp x86 Home Edition, it wouldn't accept the key code on the label on the back of the box. It has been years since I installed or used xp so I've forgotten everything I used to know about getting xp to pass Microsoft's Genuine Validation. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Thanks for all the help. I ended up using Windows XP x86 VL. It came with two key codes but the first one was blocked. The second one worked. As a nice side effect of using VL, I was able to download most if not all of the old updates, not just the security updates. This machine is not fast, it only has 1gb of ram but for a senior citizen who just wants to do e-mail and Facebook this will work for them. Tomorrow it goes to Goodwill and then on to a new owner.
Be advised here that that key, (if bogus) can get blocked also. No operating system has ever come with 2 keys.