How do I change the XP key without doing a clean install?

[Guest]

I have a handful of clients that may have been services by the same company
before we took over their accounts... It appears that even though all their
PC were purchased with legal XP Pro OEM copies with the CID on the side of
the machine, someone chose to reinstall Windows XP using a pireted corporte
licence that has caused all of these machines to fail WGA and start getting
notifications... I spoke to someone at MS the other day on the phone and they
said there was an easy way to change the invalid key for a valid one and
rerun WGA... But I have not been able to find this information in the forums
anyplace... Does anybody know how to do this... There really are too many
machines to do a reasonable clean install.... Please advise...

Thanks,
Sasha (Q Logic, Ltd.)

 

[Guest]

Yes u can change the key assuming they are the same verion, suck as oem with
oem, retail with retail, but xp corporate ed to xp pro oem is not possible.

 

[Guest]

Do you know if it is possable to make the change online or on the phone with
Microsoft directly, without reformatting?

Thanks,
Sasha

 

[Guest]

Or is it possable for MS to convert OEM keys to Corp. keys for this purpose
if there is enough of them, or is that strictly forbidden as well?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a handful of clients that may have been services by the same
company before we took over their accounts... It appears that even
though all their PC were purchased with legal XP Pro OEM copies
with the CID on the side of the machine, someone chose to reinstall
Windows XP using a pireted corporte licence that has caused all of
these machines to fail WGA and start getting notifications... I
spoke to someone at MS the other day on the phone and they said
there was an easy way to change the invalid key for a valid one and
rerun WGA... But I have not been able to find this information in
the forums anyplace... Does anybody know how to do this... There
really are too many machines to do a reasonable clean install....
Please advise...

Search using Google!
http://www.google.com/
(How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )

1) Make an additional backup along with your periodic backups. Extra
safety.
2) Choose one:

The Genuine Advantage Product Key Update Tool is only valid for
users attempting to change their current non-genuine Product Key
to a genuine COA sticker or genuine Product Key - all without a reinstall!
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/purchase/UpdateInstructions.aspx

and/or

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

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

 

[Guest]

Thanks so much...

These solutions look like exactly what I was looking for I will begin testing
tomorrow...

Thanks Again,
Sasha (Q Logic, Ltd.)