How to replace WinowsXP product key without reinstalling from scra

[Guest]

I found that my clone PC's Windows XP Pro SP2 has an invalid Volume License
Key, so I cannot perform some of the important update from Microsoft. That's
why I purcahsed the Genuine Windows XP Pro SP1 from my friend.

Could anyone kind enough to tell me how do I enter the Genuine Product key
to my existing OS without reinstalling the whole thing from scratch?

Thanks very much for your help.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

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 - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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:

| I found that my clone PC's Windows XP Pro SP2 has an invalid Volume License
| Key, so I cannot perform some of the important update from Microsoft. That's
| why I purcahsed the Genuine Windows XP Pro SP1 from my friend.
|
| Could anyone kind enough to tell me how do I enter the Genuine Product key
| to my existing OS without reinstalling the whole thing from scratch?
|
| Thanks very much for your help.

 

[Guest]

Go to task bar,R.click,open task mgr,new task,type:msoobe.exe

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

As usual, ""Andrew E." has disseminated incorrect advice.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

"Andrew E." incorrectly wrote:

| Go to task bar,R.click,open task mgr,new task,type:msoobe.exe

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

I found that my clone PC's Windows XP Pro SP2 has an invalid Volume
License Key, so I cannot perform some of the important update from
Microsoft. That's why I purcahsed the Genuine Windows XP Pro SP1 from
my friend.

Could anyone kind enough to tell me how do I enter the Genuine
Product key to my existing OS without reinstalling the whole thing
from scratch?

Thanks very much for your help.

I need to change my XP Product KEY #18 on the FAQ list
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

Go to task bar,R.click,open task mgr,new task,type:msoobe.exe

What exactly would that accomplish?
Wrong again.

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Simon Zerafa]

Hi,

Contrary to the other replies to this post, you will probably need to
re-install Windows XP again.

The routines which check the Product Key for either the Installer or for
Activation are specific to each "build type" of XP.

So the so called "Corporate" version of Windows will only accept the VLK
product keys.

If you now have a Retail or OEM version of XP then the product key you
received with that will only work with the specific version of XP it was
shipped with.

It might be possible to hack your existing install to accept the new product
key you now have, however activation will probably not work anyway as the
activation process will see you have a VLK installed copy of XP and report
you are already activated.

Regards

Simon

 

[Michael Stevens]

Hi,

Contrary to the other replies to this post, you will probably need to
re-install Windows XP again.

The routines which check the Product Key for either the Installer or for
Activation are specific to each "build type" of XP.

So the so called "Corporate" version of Windows will only accept the VLK
product keys.

If you now have a Retail or OEM version of XP then the product key you
received with that will only work with the specific version of XP it was
shipped with.

It might be possible to hack your existing install to accept the new
product key you now have, however activation will probably not work anyway
as the activation process will see you have a VLK installed copy of XP and
report you are already activated.

Regards

Simon

Very funny Simon, then I guess all those people that thanked me are lying.
*-) You can use a retail or OEM pro version to do a repair install to change
the VLK key. The key changers also work according to feedback.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Simon Zerafa]

Hi,

If you actually *read* the original question:

"I found that my clone PC's Windows XP Pro SP2 has an invalid Volume License
| Key, so I cannot perform some of the important update from Microsoft.
That's
| why I purcahsed the Genuine Windows XP Pro SP1 from my friend.
|
| Could anyone kind enough to tell me how do I enter the Genuine Product key
| to my existing OS without reinstalling the whole thing from scratch?
"
You will see that I have posted correct information.

The original question does not ask about repair installs and specifically
asks about *not* reinstalling Windows XP, but how to replace a VLK key with
an OEM/Retail one.

His existing VLK XP install will not accept OEM / Retail Keys. If they did
they woundn't be different install versions of XP would they?

Performing a repair install effectively does a reinstallation of Windows and
mixing up versions of XP in this way doesn't sound like a safe way to
resolve this issue to me. The best you could hope for is a fresh install
which might work, but would probably have lots of issues to resolve.

It would be quicker to simply back up and reinstall from scratch with the
correct XP type and key.

Even if a XP Key Changer did change the current Product Key within an
installed VLK copy of XP then activation would probably still fail as the
installed XP is not correct for the key you have entered, not that VLK
installs need activating in the first place.

Regards

Simon

 

[Michael Stevens]

Hi,

If you actually *read* the original question:

"I found that my clone PC's Windows XP Pro SP2 has an invalid Volume
License
| Key, so I cannot perform some of the important update from Microsoft.
That's
| why I purcahsed the Genuine Windows XP Pro SP1 from my friend.
|
| Could anyone kind enough to tell me how do I enter the Genuine Product
key
| to my existing OS without reinstalling the whole thing from scratch?
"
You will see that I have posted correct information.

The original question does not ask about repair installs and specifically
asks about *not* reinstalling Windows XP, but how to replace a VLK key
with an OEM/Retail one.

His existing VLK XP install will not accept OEM / Retail Keys. If they did
they woundn't be different install versions of XP would they?

Performing a repair install effectively does a reinstallation of Windows
and mixing up versions of XP in this way doesn't sound like a safe way to
resolve this issue to me. The best you could hope for is a fresh install
which might work, but would probably have lots of issues to resolve.

It would be quicker to simply back up and reinstall from scratch with the
correct XP type and key.

Even if a XP Key Changer did change the current Product Key within an
installed VLK copy of XP then activation would probably still fail as the
installed XP is not correct for the key you have entered, not that VLK
installs need activating in the first place.

Regards

Simon

I read it, I still say you are wrong.
Please include the post you reply to.

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Michael Stevens]

BTW, You obviously did not read my web page FAQ on changing a key. Check the
step by step on how to use the OEM Pro XP CD to change the key.
The OP said they did not want to reinstall, I believe they meant start from
a clean install. A repair install is not a reinstall, it is a refreshing of
the original files, but it leaves the data and settings. I have had enough
feedback thanking me for supplying the information to change the key on a VL
aka corporate installation to know you don't know what you are talking
about.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#18

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm