Re-Installing XP - Shoot Me In The Face

So, finally, roughly 2.5 years after his birth, I decided it was time for Megaman to get a clean install of Windows XP. The malignant applications and such had been slowly building and I figured that I might as well get it over with.

So, I dug out the old Windows XP Professional SP2 disc, snagged my backup drive from work, backed up all my music/movies/TV shows and documents, and started fresh. Of course, the SP2 disc that I have wouldn't boot properly - no big deal, I had prepared for this by bringing home my XP disc from work. I figured I would just install using the other disc and then use the activation code from my old installation.

Well, apparently, it doesn't work that way, or at least it doesn't work that way for me. Everything ran and installed fine, but then when it came time to activate, the original code I had used when I built the CPU the first time didn't work. I figured I would give the other activation code from the disc I used a try - no dice.

Not the end of the world, right? I called the number on the activation splash and was promptly given a series of 54 numbers as an ID. After reading all 9 6-number groups to an automated system, I was told they couldn't validate it, and they would put me on with customer service. After speaking with the first guy from customer service, he told me he would transfer me to someone who could give me a new activation code. After speaking with that woman for about 10 minutes (about 8 of which were on hold), I was given a new Activation code for my XP. All set, right?

Wrong! Naturally, this code didn't work either. When I informed her of this, she told me that she would have to put me on with technical support. So she transferred me to them, but naturally, their hours don't start until 6 AM Pacific - so I will be at work at that time, which isn't the end of the world, but means I have to call after work, when call volume is the highest. In their defense, every person I talked to was very pleasant and friendly, so even though they didn't solve my problem, at least they weren't jerks.

I am pretty sure I have a valid installation of XP - I mean, I have used it before, why wouldn't I be able to reinstall with it? But I am really worried I am going to go through this run around on the phone only to finally be told, "Sorry, you have to go buy a new copy of XP." I really hope this isn't the case. Wish me luck.