Win 2000 serial issue

[jhoppe]

Hello all,

I am in the process of installing Windows 2000 Pro onto an IBM 2647-8AU notebook, and am using an old MSDN subscription image that I had from a few years back to put 2000 back on, but it will not accept the serial that is on the COA sticker on the bottom. Does the 2000 installation CD need to be a retail copy or something?

Thanks!

[Crgky127]

The key could be either retail, OEM, or volume. The CD has to be the same. I'm guessing OEM.

[jhoppe]

Is there any way to find out which type - retail, oem, of vlk, it is (based on the coa tag)?

...I did a test on the MS COA page, and it says...

You should have received a recovery solutions Disc from your computer manufacturer. To verify that the recovery solutions CD that came with your computer is genuine, please contact your computer manufacturer.

...does this mean I need an oem cd specific to ibm or just an oem cd? Or does this MS message mean something else?

[Crgky127]

To tell what kind the key is, look to see if the COA says IBM, if so it's OEM.

To tell what kind of key the CD accepts
http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-2000/identifing-windows-2000-version/13796.html
(Also VLK=270/640)

[jhoppe]

OK, it looks like the CD I am using is a retail version (by following the tutorial on your link), and it does not like the serial on the case, so the coa, even though it says IBM nowhere, must be oem, correct?

I also think it may be oem because there is a MS NT wkstn 4.0 product id, and that id is in the format xxxxx-oem-xxxxxxx-xxxxx

Is that a serial or is that something else? Does that lead to you believe that the 2000 key is oem as well? Will any generic 2000 pro oem cd work or does it have to be an IBM branded cd?