Recently looking at two laptops for a customer and wishing to perform Windows Update, I have encountered "Licence Key is invalid" I have been informed by the customer their preivous IT provider appears to have duplicated an XP key when performing two Home to Pro upgrades. They have the second valid licence and has asked if it is possible to replace the licence key in one of the installations

I have not been able to determin a method by which this is possible, is any one able to help me with this. Hopefully I don't need to rebuild the workstation back to XP Home and perform the upgrade

Apparently, the laptop owner installed an unauthorized,
pirated, and illegal version of Windows XP Professional.

If you are getting the following error message when attempting to update to SP1:

Error Message: The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp

You'll have to purchase a new "Full Version" of Windows XP Professional
and perform a "Repair Install" using the new Windows XP Pro CD and Product Key
that comes with it. (You cannot simply change the Product Key)

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

In order to reinstall Windows XP Home, a "clean install" would be required.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Dave Kennedy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message:
news:AB333EEA-A4AB-4E1D-9FA7-(E-Mail Removed)...

| Recently looking at two laptops for a customer and wishing to perform Windows Update, I have encountered
"Licence Key is invalid" I have been informed by the customer their preivous IT provider appears to have
duplicated an XP key when performing two Home to Pro upgrades. They have the second valid licence and has
asked if it is possible to replace the licence key in one of the installations?
|
| I have not been able to determin a method by which this is possible, is any one able to help me with this.
Hopefully I don't need to rebuild the workstation back to XP Home and perform the upgrade.

Greetings --

If you are trying to install Service Pack 1a and getting the
following:

The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q326904

You need to purchase and use a _legitimate_ full retail copy of
WinXP Pro to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation,
using the new CD and Product Key.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directo...;EN-US;Q315341


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Dave Kennedy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:AB333EEA-A4AB-4E1D-9FA7-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Recently looking at two laptops for a customer and wishing to
> perform Windows Update, I have encountered "Licence Key is invalid"
> I have been informed by the customer their preivous IT provider
> appears to have duplicated an XP key when performing two Home to Pro
> upgrades. They have the second valid licence and has asked if it is
> possible to replace the licence key in one of the installations?
>
> I have not been able to determin a method by which this is possible,
> is any one able to help me with this. Hopefully I don't need to
> rebuild the workstation back to XP Home and perform the upgrade.
>
>
>
>

Dave Kennedy wrote:
> Recently looking at two laptops for a customer and wishing to perform
> Windows Update, I have encountered "Licence Key is invalid" I have
> been informed by the customer their preivous IT provider appears to
> have duplicated an XP key when performing two Home to Pro upgrades.
> They have the second valid licence and has asked if it is possible to
> replace the licence key in one of the installations?
>
> I have not been able to determin a method by which this is possible,
> is any one able to help me with this. Hopefully I don't need to
> rebuild the workstation back to XP Home and perform the upgrade.

Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Change CD key.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#need2
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(E-Mail Removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
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