Updating Windows XP Pro Product key after SP" is installed

[Uncle John]

Is there a simple way of updating the Windows XP Pro Product Key after SP2
is installed?

I have been grumbling to my large family - an old man's privilege at
Christmas - about SP 2. Particularly the inconvenience of system repairs
that require first installing the original Windows XP Pro, then installing
SP2 and then the saved hot fixes. So on New year' day to keep me quiet, my
family gave me a new Microsoft gold CD of XP Pro with SP2 all ready built
in.

Today the young have all gone their different ways and I had time to try to
update the XP Pro Product key using a small applet called (naturally)
Windows Key Editor. It had worked OK in the case of going from XP original
to XP+SP1.
This time it went through all the procedures but after I rebooted the
key was unchanged. I tried a more recent product which also went through the
procedures correctly but told me that the change had not completed because
the new key was not a valid one.

Both the old and new CD's are 100% legal Microsoft products. However, after
researching this topic on the web I am led to the conclusion that I can only
make the change by doing an in place Repair Install from the new CD so I am
faced with all the hassle now or later if and when I have a bad system
crash.

I would be very happy if someone can tell me a better way.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Attempting to install SP2 by just changing the Product Key
is not going to work. You'll need to use the new CD and
Product Key to perform a "Repair Install".

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

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

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

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

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

:

| Is there a simple way of updating the Windows XP Pro Product Key after SP2
| is installed?
|
| I have been grumbling to my large family - an old man's privilege at
| Christmas - about SP 2. Particularly the inconvenience of system repairs
| that require first installing the original Windows XP Pro, then installing
| SP2 and then the saved hot fixes. So on New year' day to keep me quiet, my
| family gave me a new Microsoft gold CD of XP Pro with SP2 all ready built
| in.
|
| Today the young have all gone their different ways and I had time to try to
| update the XP Pro Product key using a small applet called (naturally)
| Windows Key Editor. It had worked OK in the case of going from XP original
| to XP+SP1.
| This time it went through all the procedures but after I rebooted the
| key was unchanged. I tried a more recent product which also went through the
| procedures correctly but told me that the change had not completed because
| the new key was not a valid one.
|
| Both the old and new CD's are 100% legal Microsoft products. However, after
| researching this topic on the web I am led to the conclusion that I can only
| make the change by doing an in place Repair Install from the new CD so I am
| faced with all the hassle now or later if and when I have a bad system
| crash.
|
| I would be very happy if someone can tell me a better way.

 

[Uncle John]

Thanks Carey

I was afraid that there was no short cut!

 

[Uncle John]

Carey,

Having looked at the link you helpfully provided It is not clear which is
the best route to take.
Bearing in mind that my system is OK and upgraded to SP2 and that I want to
change the Key is it better to do a repair install from the a CD Boot using
the new Windows XP pro + SP2 CD or to to the repair install from with in
Windows with the new CD already in place?

 

[D.Currie]

Carey,

Having looked at the link you helpfully provided It is not clear which is
the best route to take.
Bearing in mind that my system is OK and upgraded to SP2 and that I want
to change the Key is it better to do a repair install from the a CD Boot
using the new Windows XP pro + SP2 CD or to to the repair install from
with in Windows with the new CD already in place?

If you've got a running system with SP2 installed, why do you want to change
the key?

 

[Darrell Gorter[MSFT]]

Hello Uncle John,
The media types must be the same to be able to change the Product Key.
Right-click on my computer and choose properties.
Under Registered to there is a 20 digit number. like this
12345-123-1234567-12345
What are the first numbers 12345-123?
On the new cd in the i386 folder, open the setupp.ini file
What is on the PID= line? ( 8 digit number)
Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
--------------------

 

[Uncle John]

Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

Thanks for your message the current number is

5274-007.........................
on the new CD it is

76487OEM
I guess my kids have bought the wrong type of CD though they paid full
whack. It works perfectly in all other respects so I guess I have just got
to keep it for a recovery in case there is a disaster?

 

[Darrell Gorter[MSFT]]

Hello Uncle John,
That is correct. Since the media type is different, you cannot just change
the product key.
You would have to reinstall to be able to use the new key
Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
--------------------

From: "Uncle John" <[email protected]>
References: <utKK#[email protected]>

<eGY#[email protected]>

Subject: Re: Updating Windows XP Pro Product key after SP" is installed
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 12:12:54 -0000
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Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

Thanks for your message the current number is

5274-007.........................
on the new CD it is

76487OEM
I guess my kids have bought the wrong type of CD though they paid full
whack. It works perfectly in all other respects so I guess I have just got
to keep it for a recovery in case there is a disaster?