I have no evidence to verify this, but I am 90% sure because I remember encountering this my self.think Windows changed it's CD key algorithom between RTM and the SP's.
I don't know when it happened or if it happened more than once, however I think the act of slipstreaming SP3 on to the CD may be changing the key check algorithm and that is why it is failing.
The only reference I could find to back this up was was from from herethis guide for slipstreaming SP3 on to a SP2 CD:
Step 6: Test, install it properly, add updates
...
Do not enter your product key during Setup: I've heard from readers
and have read separately online that there is a problem in some cases
where Setup will not accept a valid Windows XP Product Key on an
integrated XP with SP3 install. For this reason, you should choose not
to enter the Product Key until after XP is installed. Obviously, I
can't test every possible permutation, but I have successful activated
XP integrated with SP3 on my own systems repeatedly in this fashion.
I have no evidence to verify this, but I am 90% sure because I remember encountering this my self. Windows changed it's CD key algorithom between RTM and the SP's.
I don't know when it happened or if it happened more than once, however I think the act of slipstreaming SP3 on to the CD may be changing the key check algorithm and that is why it is failing.
The only reference I could find was from here:
Step 6: Test, install it properly, add updates
...
Do not enter your product key during Setup: I've heard from readers
and have read separately online that there is a problem in some cases
where Setup will not accept a valid Windows XP Product Key on an
integrated XP with SP3 install. For this reason, you should choose not
to enter the Product Key until after XP is installed. Obviously, I
can't test every possible permutation, but I have successful activated
XP integrated with SP3 on my own systems repeatedly in this fashion.
I think Windows changed it's CD key algorithom between RTM and the SP's.
I don't know when it happened or if it happened more than once, however I think the act of slipstreaming SP3 on to the CD may be changing the key check algorithm and that is why it is failing.
The only reference I could find to back this up was was from this guide for slipstreaming SP3 on to a SP2 CD:
Step 6: Test, install it properly, add updates
...
Do not enter your product key during Setup: I've heard from readers
and have read separately online that there is a problem in some cases
where Setup will not accept a valid Windows XP Product Key on an
integrated XP with SP3 install. For this reason, you should choose not
to enter the Product Key until after XP is installed. Obviously, I
can't test every possible permutation, but I have successful activated
XP integrated with SP3 on my own systems repeatedly in this fashion.