"Corporate" vs Pro Keys and trying to avoid a reinstall.

  • Thread starter Thread starter sardonic.smiles
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sardonic.smiles

I have a pirated version of XP installed on one of the computers in my
house, but recently heard about the student discount for XP, and bought
a copy of XP pro just so I wouldn't have to deal with all the stuff
that MS is tossing around with WGA. Can I use the cd-key changer dealy
to change my currently installed version to the legit one, or do I need
to do an upgrade/repair?
 
The reinstall will wipe out all custom reg hacks that are on the
machine which I want to avoid if at all possible. If I'm going to have
to reinstall in any way I'll just start from scratch, but I'd perfer a
workaround.

"I have a pirated version of XP installed on one of the computers in my
house" != "I installed stolen software on my machine."
 
A repair install replaces all windows registry settings doesn't it? It
will leave extranious program keys and such in place, but most if not
all of the reg hacks on the machine are in the Windows portion of
things.

But if nobody knows if the key change will work, then I'll reinstall.
Thanks.
 
I don't know what exactly you mean by hacks. It will be just like any upgrade. Some things will be repaired and some things will be left alone.
 
Speed tweaks and customized registry settings. Nothing that's
irreplacable, just time consuming.
 
Export the registry keys needed and save them to disk. When finished with the repair install, import the keys back into the registry.
Otherwise you can only try the key change or perform a fresh install.

BTW, I knew/know full well what your reference to Pirated means.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
The reinstall will wipe out all custom reg hacks that are on the
machine which I want to avoid if at all possible. If I'm going to have
to reinstall in any way I'll just start from scratch, but I'd perfer a
workaround.

"I have a pirated version of XP installed on one of the computers in my
house" != "I installed stolen software on my machine."
Click to expand...

Er, yes it does. Pirated is stolen, hacked is modified.
 
The key change will not work. You will have to do a repair install or a
clean install with the correct key.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-
 
I have a pirated version of XP installed on one of the computers in my
house, but recently heard about the student discount for XP, and bought
a copy of XP pro just so I wouldn't have to deal with all the stuff
that MS is tossing around with WGA. Can I use the cd-key changer dealy
to change my currently installed version to the legit one,
Click to expand...


No, you can't simply change the product key. Product Keys are bound to
the specific type and language of CD and/or license (OEM, Volume,
retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are purchased. For example, a
WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail version of WinXP
Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice versa. An upgrade's
Product Key cannot be used with a full version CD, and vice versa. An
OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail product. An Italian
Product Key will not work with an English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys
and CD types cannot be mixed & matched.

or do I need
to do an upgrade/repair?
Click to expand...


You'll need to use your _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/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
 
The difference between *MY* installing a stolen copy of Windows on *MY*
machine, and having a computer in the house that I live in having a
stolen copy of Windows on it is about ten miles wide.

To Bruce, thank you for the explanation. Reinstall it is.
 
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