Can I replace my stock stereo with another stock stereo in my VW Golf?

I have a 1997 Volkswagen Golf that the stock head unit stereo went bad. Can I replace it with another stock stereo from a similar VW with the exact stereo? I have done this and even have the code from the old vehicle it was taken from but when I enter the code from the old vehicle or my code from my vehicle they both won't work. Am I doing something wrong?Can I replace my stock stereo with another stock stereo in my VW Golf?just get a new radio stock is weak