If your Retail disk will boot but the OEM one will not - there is not secret to it - it must just be bad.  You can, however, install with a Retail disk then activate using your OEM product key BY PHONE with Microsoft. Note:  The product key is valid ONLY on the system it came with, regardless of the media used.
I replaced the failed 80 gig drive with a 500 gig drive and the OEM restore disk will not boot. I have a retail copy of xp and it boots up just fine and will install but I am using the key on another PC. Does anyone know why the OEM disk will not boot? or a way to use OEM key on the retail version? Help John
OEM disk will not boot?