Changing from non-legit to legit key without reinstall?

  • Thread starter Phillip Roncoroni
  • Start date
P

Phillip Roncoroni

I've been running a non-legit version of XP Pro SP2 and recently found out
that my college had an MSDNAA partnership, giving us, among other things,
free access to legit versions of XP Pro SP2.

Trying to re-activate with:
c:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
.... and the new, legit key (volume license) doesn't work. I've been told
that I have to re-install from scratch with the new key to be genuine.

Is there a way around this? Is there anyway to download the "Windows Product
Key Update Tool," or is it some ActiveX control that appears only after you
purchase a key on Microsoft's website?
 
K

kurttrail

Phillip said:
I've been running a non-legit version of XP Pro SP2 and recently
found out that my college had an MSDNAA partnership, giving us, among
other things, free access to legit versions of XP Pro SP2.

Trying to re-activate with:
c:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
... and the new, legit key (volume license) doesn't work. I've been
told that I have to re-install from scratch with the new key to be
genuine.
Is there a way around this? Is there anyway to download the "Windows
Product Key Update Tool," or is it some ActiveX control that appears
only after you purchase a key on Microsoft's website?

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#18

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."
 
R

Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers

Hi,

You can do a repair installation with the legit copy, but you cannot simply
substitute the new key. There is no way around this, though it doesn't have
to be a "clean" installation. Simply do an "in place upgrade" with the legit
version and product key. The only time you can change the key without
reinstalling is with volume license versions.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 

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