Illegal XP Pro

[Guest]

I have a pirate version of XP Pro installed on my newly acquired second hnd
PC. I have bought a genuine version of XP Home - can I use my keys from the
genuine home to license my illegal Pro without having to uninstall the
illegal Windows and the install the licensed version. I just don't want to
lose all those other applications!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You'll need a "Full Version" of Windows XP Professional,
and not Windows XP Home Edition, in order to change the
existing non-genuine Windows XP Professional Product Key
to a genuine Windows XP Professional Product Key.

The Genuine Advantage Product Key Update Tool is only valid for
users attempting to change their current non-genuine Product Key
to a genuine COA sticker or genuine Product Key - all without a reinstall
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409

Otherwise, if you wish to install a genuine version of Windows XP
Home Edition, a "clean install" is required. A "clean install" will
reformat the hard drive, thus removing the non-genuine copy of
Windows XP Professional (and all programs) and permitting the
installation of Windows XP Home Edition.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html


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

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:

| I have a pirate version of XP Pro installed on my newly acquired second hnd
| PC. I have bought a genuine version of XP Home - can I use my keys from the
| genuine home to license my illegal Pro without having to uninstall the
| illegal Windows and the install the licensed version. I just don't want to
| lose all those other applications!

 

[Guest]

Hi dude ,

Just follow the link and proceed further

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/purchase/UpdateInstructions.aspx

 

[LVTravel]

No. XP Pro can't be downgraded to home without a complete uninstall/reformat
of the hard drive since Pro is NOT an "upgrade" path to Home version. The
other way would have worked however (Home to Pro.)

 

[Bob I]

I think there will be a problem with the Home edition key and the Pro
edition install.

 

[Guest]

Wow that helps a lot when you've got an illegal xp pro and have bought a
legit xp home.... This advice won't work in this case but however will work
if you have a legit copy of the EXACT same OS as ur illegal copy.

Joe

Kemco IT Professional

 

[Davy]

I have bought a genuine version of XP
Home - can I use my keys from the

genuine home to license my illegal Pro without having to uninstall the
illegal Windows and the install the licensed version.

You have an illegal copy of Xp pro, you have a legal copy of Xp home
and you want to use the Xp Home edition license key on the Xp pro.

Xp home key will not validate the Xp pro o/s. Any important files
could be saved to a floppy or CD ROM and then used or re-installed
after installation of Xp Home o/s.

Davy

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a pirate version of XP Pro installed on my newly acquired
second hnd PC. I have bought a genuine version of XP Home - can I
use my keys from the genuine home to license my illegal Pro without
having to uninstall the illegal Windows and the install the licensed
version. I just don't want to lose all those other applications!

No. XP Home keys won't work with XP Professional, or vice versa.

Product keys need to match the CD with respect to whether they are Home vs.
Professional, Full vs. Upgrade, and Retail vs. OEM.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

No. XP Pro can't be downgraded to home without a complete
uninstall/reformat of the hard drive since Pro is NOT an "upgrade"
path to Home version.

No, he doesn't want to change from Professional to Home, he just wants to
use his legal XP Home Product Key to legitimize his pirated version of XP
Professional. He can't do that because Home keys and Professional keys are
different, not because you can't downgrade from Professional to Home (which
is true, but irrelevant in this case)..

The other way would have worked however (Home
to Pro.)

Although you can upgrade from Home to Professional, it's really immaterial
in this case too. He couldn't do what he wants in that direction either.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a pirate version of XP Pro installed on my newly acquired second hnd
PC.

With second-hand computers, especially if acquired from strangers
but perhaps even if acquired from a family member or friend, your wisest
course of action would probably be to format the hard drives and start
fresh. You don't want to get in trouble because the original owner may
have filled the hard drive with kiddie porn, or have problems because
the original owner downloaded/installed viruses or other malware. I
would be especially leery of this one, as you already know that the
person who sold it was completely lacking in integrity.

I have bought a genuine version of XP Home - can I use my keys from the
genuine home to license my illegal Pro without having to uninstall the
illegal Windows and the install the licensed version.

No, it can't be done. 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.



--

Bruce Chambers

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