Legitimizing Windows XP Installation

S

Steve

I have a friend (really) who has a copy of XP Pro that was not exactly
legal. He has since purchased a legal, licensed copy and would like to
install it on his computer.

He has asked me if there is a way to do this without destroying his programs
or data and I was not sure, so I am turning this over to you.

Can he somehow just enter his new legal license number into his current
installation to make it legal?

Or is there some way to do an install using his new version over the top of
the other version to make it legal?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks.
Steve
 
G

Guest

He has asked me if there is a way to do this without destroying his programs
or data and I was not sure, so I am turning this over to you.
Click to expand...

No ,he needs to do a complete format of the hard drive and then a new fresh
install of Windows

Can he somehow just enter his new legal license number into his current
installation to make it legal?
Click to expand...

I think NO,because while installing the Windows was entered a pirated crack
code and you need to re-install.
When your friend has installed Windows,he have to activate the Windows copy


Panda_man
 
T

tjoy

Panda_man said:
No ,he needs to do a complete format of the hard drive and then a new fresh
install of Windows



I think NO,because while installing the Windows was entered a pirated crack
code and you need to re-install.
When your friend has installed Windows,he have to activate the Windows copy


Panda_man
Click to expand...

no need to reinstalling windows like other suggest.
Look up this link
http://www.petri.co.il/change_the_serial_in_windows_xp.htm
Windows has this option built in!!!!!
 
K

Kerry Brown

tjoy said:
no need to reinstalling windows like other suggest.
Look up this link
http://www.petri.co.il/change_the_serial_in_windows_xp.htm
Windows has this option built in!!!!!
Click to expand...

This method only works if the types of XP match. e.g. the pirate key was an
XP Home Retail and the new key is for XP Home Retail. If there are any
differences e.g one is Pro and one is Home, or one is Volume License and one
is OEM etc. you will have problems. It is likely it won't work because most
of the pirate keys are from the Volume License program. You may be able to
do a repair install if the method in the link doesn't work. If the repair
install doesn't work (it has some of the same limitations I already
mentioned) then a reformat and clean install is the only choice. I'd try the
method for changing the serial number first. If that doesn't work then a
repair install, then a clean install. Make sure you backup your data before
trying any of the methods.

Here is a link on to perform a repair install:

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

Kerry
 
S

Steve N.

Steve said:
I have a friend (really) who has a copy of XP Pro that was not exactly
legal. He has since purchased a legal, licensed copy and would like to
install it on his computer.

He has asked me if there is a way to do this without destroying his programs
or data and I was not sure, so I am turning this over to you.

Can he somehow just enter his new legal license number into his current
installation to make it legal?

Or is there some way to do an install using his new version over the top of
the other version to make it legal?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks.
Steve
Click to expand...

He can do a repair install (AKA "in-place upgrade"):

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

Steve
 
S

Steve N.

Panda_man said:
No ,he needs to do a complete format of the hard drive and then a new fresh
install of Windows

Hogwash.



I think NO,because while installing the Windows was entered a pirated crack
code and you need to re-install.
Click to expand...

He can do a repair install with the legit version.
When your friend has installed Windows,he have to activate the Windows copy


Panda_man
Click to expand...

It'll activate just fine after a repair install.

Steve
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Steve said:
I have a friend (really) who has a copy of XP Pro that was not exactly
legal. He has since purchased a legal, licensed copy and would like to
install it on his computer.

He has asked me if there is a way to do this without destroying his programs
or data and I was not sure, so I am turning this over to you.

Can he somehow just enter his new legal license number into his current
installation to make it legal?

Or is there some way to do an install using his new version over the top of
the other version to make it legal?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks.
Steve
Click to expand...


Your friend could use a full (retail or OEM) license of WinXP Pro
to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation on his
computer, 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:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Panda_man said:
No ,he needs to do a complete format of the hard drive and then a new fresh
install of Windows
Click to expand...


That's simply not true. A repair installation would be sufficient.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
K

kurttrail

Leythos said:
Not according to the Licensing people that you can reach at Microsoft.
Click to expand...


LOL! They give you the answer you want to hear since you charge you
customers for backing them up and reinstalling.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"
 
T

tjoy

Leythos said:
Not according to the Licensing people that you can reach at Microsoft.
Click to expand...

Of course that jackass will tell you to format HD, and don't create backup
prior that.
Most of them have no clue what they are talking about.
They just follow guide book when you call them. Little chart, if this
doesn't work then try that.
To you think custommer support guys know more about the software than
designers/coders?
Don't think so.
 

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