If a person enters an incorrect product key by mistake during the installation of the Windows operating system, would he be prompted to enter the correct one? in case the person is not prompted to enter the correct product key the second time, what can be done in order to install the Windows operating system onto the hard drive?

hello you will be prompted to install the corect key. i had to do this its not a problem.

If you have Win ME, an error message shows stating.... 'you have entered the incorrect number, try again. If you think you have the correct number and it still does not work contact Microsoft'. Or something to this effect. I don't know if there is a limit on how many times you can try a different number. You can't proceed with the instalation unless you have entered a serial number that works. Once a number is used that does work, you can enter the registry and change the number to anything you like. I would not recommend this last bit but Windows appears to still work.

Wawadave.... glad you are here. I bought a new PC from a computer supplier with Win ME preinstalled. I have now noticed that the label on the back of the PC case shows a different serial number to that in the registry. On a friends PC the numbers are the same. If I wanted to re-install, which serial number should I use and would either of them work with a full copy of Win ME rather than a pre-installed copy (if there is a difference). Bye for now and thanks.

Sorry, I should have started a new thread.

Leave it like it is. If it is a full retail copy on the CD and a full Retail copy was used to setup your system, both will work. However, many vendors use an OEM version which has a different set of ProductKey's. If you ever have to do a re-install use the one on the CD. But you can try the one the system, as it may or may not work. It is not an issue to worry about. The vendor most likely re-installed the OS using a different CD and serial number than the one on the case.