Couldn't get XP SP2 to load on a laptop after several tries. Computer is clean - no spyware or virus. It had BETA versions of the SP2 installations on it and I removed them throught the "add and remove programs". Then the blue screen of death. Did a chkdsk /r and that didn't fix that problem. Went to do a dirty install (bootof XP with OEM disk use the "install XP" then when it found XP installed offers to repair) and figured I would use the OEM disk with SP2 on it - OPPS! Now it won't accept the valid product key on the bottome of the laptop! I didn't think that MS would prevent legit owners of XP from installing XP2 - read several forums and they appear to have implemented a means to prevent most hacked versions of XP from getting the SP2... but this is a leiget license!
I tried doing a dirty install with the OEM SP1 - with doubts that that would work... i was right.
Wipe & reload will not be considered yet... I will look at that option when we determine an actual fix isn't possible, please. Thank You ~Paul