In reply to a post by cox377:

..... It's trying to estalish which version matches that key, any ideas?.....

It doesn't matter which version that you use; they're all in ones. The key decides the version that is installed.

Not with some OEM/enterprise editions, the install process is locked to the specific version.

Every Win7 installation disk that I've seen are all versions and combined retail/OEM. The only difference is that of x86/x64 versions but these use the same key anyway.
I daresay that there are exceptions to this rule.

If it BSODs once a day or so, it's W95/98/ME. If BSOD on boot, XP SP1.

I had a look at that document and coudlnt see anything.

It may however be a windows XP as it has a document and settings folder. Did vista have D&S folder as I know 7 doesnt.

As XRaySpeX (who must be prescient ), states above, have a look at the boot.ini file if it's a XP machine.

That was the case for Vista, not Windows 7.

Windows 7 doesn't ask for the key until after the end of the install.

In reply to a post by Mikey2:

As XRaySpeX (who must be prescient )

These Spex XRay not only Space but also Time

In reply to a post by cox377:

Did vista have D&S folder as I know 7 doesnt.

XP has a \D&S folder at root level; Vista has a \Users folder at root and a D&S Junction (sort of hard link to \Users) at the same level.

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

Not with some OEM/enterprise editions, the install process is locked to the specific version.

Nope, not with Win7. Its true for Vista and earlier.