okhomer, you work as an IT, you have the software and the key in front of you , we don't see it, but as an IT you should be able to know what you have on hand. We try to help you but we are only speculating as for me at least I'm not even sure you have a retail copy of Windows pro, and you need one for activate MC. Is it an official DVD from MS ? is it something download and burn on a DVD , and from where ? Where come the thing you try to install ? You said it's an University, may be an educational version theat MS provide to your University for evaluation, may be something not eligible for MC, Unless we have those basic info, I don't think we can help.