Troubleshooting "Invalid Product Key" Error Message During Setup

ID: Q232142

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you type your product key during the installation of Windows 95 or Windows 98, you may receive the following error message:

The Product Key you entered is invalid.


CAUSE

This issue can occur if one or more of the following conditions exist:


RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, perform the following steps in order, testing to determine if the issue is resolved after each step:

  1. Check the product key to ensure that it is for the version of the operating system that you are attempting to install. For example, if you are installing Windows 98, make sure that you are using the product key that is on the back of the Windows 98 CD-ROM case or package included with the Widows 98 CD-ROM.


  2. Verify that your anti-virus software is not running when you run Windows Setup. For information about how to disable your anti-virus software, view the documentation included with your anti-virus program, or contact the manufacturer of your anti-virus program.


  3. Disable the anti-virus settings in your computer's Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) before starting Setup. For information about how to do so, view the documentation included with your motherboard or computer, or contact the manufacturer of your motherboard or computer.


  4. Verify that your installation media is not damaged. If it is, replace it.


  5. Verify that the computer's system date is correct. For information about how to check the date in your computer's CMOS settings, view the documentation included with your motherboard or computer, or contact the manufacturer of your motherboard or computer.


  6. "Clean-boot" your computer and start Setup again. For information about how to perform clean-boot troubleshooting, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    Q192926 How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98


  7. Install the operating system from a command prompt instead of from Windows. For information about running Setup from a command prompt, please see the "Installing Windows 98 from MS-DOS" section in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    Q179756 Windows 98 Setup.txt File
    NOTE: The Setup.txt file is also located in the Win98 folder on the Windows 98 CD-ROM.


  8. Run Setup from a "flat" folder on your hard disk. For information about running Setup from a flat folder, please see the "Running Windows 98 Setup from Your Hard Disk" section in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    Q179756 Windows 98 Setup.txt File


  9. Use the ScanDisk tool to check your hard disk for errors. To do so, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click ScanDisk.


  10. Add the following line to the Config.sys file:
    device=c:\windows\himem.sys /int15=16000
    For information about how to edit the Config.sys file, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    Q232558 How to Modify the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat Files


  11. Use the number keys on the keyboard instead of the numeric keypad to type the product key.



MORE INFORMATION

When installing an international version, Setup may use the US keyboard layout rather than the correct international keyboard layout, so that letters such as Z and Y that are in one position on the German keyboard are in a different position on the US keyboard. In this example, you would need to type the German Z where the product ID has a Y and so on.

Additional query words: pid cd key cd-key 


Keywords          : kberrmsg kbsetup kbtshoot win95 win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:95
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: July 30, 1999