R Series ThinkPad Laptops

[#1]

Important to know I'm a NOVICE on a lot of technical things.

My laptop (R51) died.  Would not start under any circumstance (XP Professional factory installed).  Finally through rescue/restore I got it to a windows startup screen and it's asking me to "activate" windows.  When I check "do it over the internet", it will not work.  Tried doing it by automated phone voice response multiple times.  Even though I'm using theproduct key info off the laptop correctly it says it doesn't recognize it.  I then followed instructions to update product key and it didn't recognize that either.  

I'm close to recovering it, but don't have any other tech support contact info etc. to follow-up with and resolve my problem.  Laptop came from IBM in 2005.  No support there anymore.  Lenova is it I guess. 

Any help is appreciated.

[#2]

Hi bigd,

If you restored the R51 through Rescue and Recovery then the Windows won't be needing activation as the Windows is already activated through MS Volume License key.  [Nonetheless sounds like you have performed some other kind of restore with Windows built-in system restore maybe?]. The key on the bottom wouldn't work since it's a oem volume license key. What you really need is RnR discs which can be found on perhaps ebay.

Hope it helps.
 

[#3]

I have had to recover my system using Thinkvantage recovery and XP is now insisting that the software be activated. I telephoned Microsoft and they confirmed that the product key is invalid, as printed in the sticker on the underside of the laptop. When i purchased the laptop back in 2007 i downgraded to XP from VISTA before taking delivery of the machine. Please help & provide the OEM key so i can use my machine.