Changing licenses

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Guest

I have an old computer that I am giving to a friend, her computer died. On
the computer I have XP Home retail version which I am going to use on my new
computer. My friend had XP Home Upgrade on the computer that died. I am
wanting to change the COA on the computer to her COA but it won't let me.
I keep getting an error message that COA is not valid. Is it because mine is
a full retail and her's an upgrade?

How do I switch them, I am not letting the computer go until I get the
codes changed because I need that COA for my computer.
 
So what you do is scrap her old upgrade entirely and install your full
version.

As the disk is "Read Only" it cannot know how many computers have been
used.

Unless you give the friend a copy of your one and only disk, friend
won't have a recovery disk to use. Then friend would have to go out and
buy a full version.

Or the friend could just go out and buy a full version and you simply
install it for the friend.
 
My friend had XP Home Upgrade on the computer that died. I am
wanting to change the COA on the computer to her COA but it won't let
me.
Click to expand...

You cant switch them like that. Uninstall your retail version and then
install that on your new computer. Format the hard drive on the computer you
are giving her.

If your friend has her own XP home upgrade she must have had an older
operating system or at least a registered coa for an older os to be able to
use the upgrade in the first place.

As I understand it she can do a fresh install with her XP home upgrade disk
using her earlier OS qualifying coa.

Hope this helps.
 
Lady_Amber said:
I have an old computer that I am giving to a friend, her computer died. On
the computer I have XP Home retail version which I am going to use on my new
computer. My friend had XP Home Upgrade on the computer that died. I am
wanting to change the COA on the computer to her COA but it won't let me.
I keep getting an error message that COA is not valid. Is it because mine is
a full retail and her's an upgrade?

How do I switch them, I am not letting the computer go until I get the
codes changed because I need that COA for my computer.
Click to expand...

Ask your friend for her upgrade disk and Qualifying Product disk.
Install that on your computer.

THe next step is the fun one. Transfer the COA from her dead box to
yours. THis is a painstaking operation with a razor blade and lighter
fluid (butane). Soak the edges of the sticker, let soak for 10-20
seconds. Put in the razor blade. (g-e-n-t-l-y) watch out for the little
cuts in the COA. When it gets too hard to push the razor, put more
fluid between the razor and the sticker. If you've done it right, and
not overdone the fluid, you can restick it to your computer.
 
THe next step is the fun one. Transfer the COA from her dead box to
yours. THis is a painstaking operation with a razor blade and lighter
fluid (butane). Soak the edges of the sticker, let soak for 10-20
seconds. Put in the razor blade. (g-e-n-t-l-y) watch out for the little
cuts in the COA. When it gets too hard to push the razor, put more
fluid between the razor and the sticker. If you've done it right, and
not overdone the fluid, you can restick it to your computer.
Click to expand...


Not really. The retail version of OS can be activated at the most in 5
minutes. Never had any problems so far!! The retail versions of OS
never had their COA stuck on the case! I am talking about retail
versions because it is said quite specifically that it is an upgrade
version. So it must be retail upgrade version and so there is no
problems at all.

Next question?
 
yeah. The next question is how do you 'soak' anything using butane, which
is a gas, not a liquid? (Yeah, I know, it's a liquid under pressure, but
not on 'the edges of the sticker')
 
Lady_Amber said:
I have an old computer that I am giving to a friend, her computer
died. On the computer I have XP Home retail version which I am going
to use on my new computer. My friend had XP Home Upgrade on the
computer that died. I am wanting to change the COA on the computer
to her COA but it won't let me. I keep getting an error message that
COA is not valid. Is it because mine is a full retail and her's an
upgrade?

How do I switch them, I am not letting the computer go until I get
the codes changed because I need that COA for my computer.
Click to expand...

I need to change my XP Product Key:

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

More than likely you'll need to do a repair install:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
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'."
 
Lady_Amber said:
I have an old computer that I am giving to a friend, her computer died. On
the computer I have XP Home retail version which I am going to use on my new
computer. My friend had XP Home Upgrade on the computer that died. I am
wanting to change the COA on the computer to her COA but it won't let me.
I keep getting an error message that COA is not valid. Is it because mine is
a full retail and her's an upgrade?

How do I switch them, I am not letting the computer go until I get the
codes changed because I need that COA for my computer.
Click to expand...

Product keys are specifically coded to the version of Windows XP and
therefore a key for the Retail Upgrade version will not work with a
Retail Full Install version or with an OEM version.

You will have probably have to reformat the hard drive and install
your friend's Retail Upgrade as a clean install. You will need a CD
(or install diskette set) from a previous version of Windows in order
to complete the install. You will be asked to insert this briefly
during the process.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
Spikey said:
My friend had XP Home Upgrade on the computer that died. I am



You cant switch them like that. Uninstall your retail version and then
install that on your new computer. Format the hard drive on the computer you
are giving her.

If your friend has her own XP home upgrade she must have had an older
operating system or at least a registered coa for an older os to be able to
use the upgrade in the first place.

As I understand it she can do a fresh install with her XP home upgrade disk
using her earlier OS qualifying coa.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

The license or coa for the qualifying OS doesn't help. To install the
upgrade as a clean install a disk from a qualifying OS needs to be
inserted when asked.
 
All upgrade disks can be shown to the PC as being the full version, i
you have the other previous version to show it, with many system
having 2 CD drives, just put the previous version in the burner, an
when it asks to check for the other version, show it to the PC tha
it exists and the install should start as per the full version, it i
a full version anyway
 
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