Windows Installation with Boot Camp Problem

[OldTeacher]

I installed boot camp on my MacBook and attempted to install Windows XP. When prompted to enter the Product Key, I did but received a message that the product id was invalid. I purchased XP Pro and it has Proof of License COA. Anyway, how do I exit? If I restart the computer and hold the Option key, I see a large padlock icon with what looks like a text box (but I can't enter text) and a clickable arrow that does nothing when I click on it. How can I get back to OS X? Do I need to reinstall OS X? Help!

 

[CJM]

Can you get the CD out of the drive? If so, insert your OS X CD and boot from that holding the 'C' key.

You should be able to then tell it to start up from Mac OS.

After that, I'd check with your XP vendor and moan. Also check you entered the CD key correctly.

EDIT: in todays society I don't think moan means the same anymore... Change it to 'complain'

 

[OldTeacher]

I can get the disk out and I tried booting from the OS X CD, but the computer now boots in Windows and apparently doesn't recognize that holding down the "C" key during booting means to boot from the CD. So my MacBook has been rendered useless until I hear from my Windows vendor or until I can figure out how to get back to OS X. Any other thoughts?

 

[Mackeyser]

If you zap the pram (apple-option-p-r) while rebooting, it will check for bootable drives and since the Mac HD will be the only one, it should boot into Mac OS X.

Did for me when my Windows install went to $#%@#$@...