Updating the CD Key on WinXP Pro SP2

[Rich Heimlich]

I have a secondary machine here that, to be honest, doesn't have a
legal CD Key. My main machine is fine but this one hasn't been.

I know want to get it fully legal so I bought another copy of XP Pro
SP2 and have a nice legal key for it.

However, all attempts to change the CD Key in it have failed. I tried
the official method (deactivating Windows, bringing up activation,
typing in the new key, etc.), I tried RockXP, I tried XPPID, I tried
the VBS scripts. NOTHING will change the CD key. It stays as the same
bad one no matter what.

I then saw a posting here that mentioned a difference in media
"types". Apparently mine must differ.

Given that, what is my best course of action for getting this
corrected without having to re-install the OS from scratch?

Can I do a Repair? Is an Update install better? I have XP running
absolutely perfectly on that system so I really don't want to have to
rebuild it all again.

Thanks.

 

[Jerry]

Do a Repair install and use the new CD key.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a secondary machine here that, to be honest, doesn't have a
legal CD Key. My main machine is fine but this one hasn't been.

I know want to get it fully legal so I bought another copy of XP Pro
SP2 and have a nice legal key for it.

However, all attempts to change the CD Key in it have failed. I tried
the official method (deactivating Windows, bringing up activation,
typing in the new key, etc.), I tried RockXP, I tried XPPID, I tried
the VBS scripts. NOTHING will change the CD key. It stays as the same
bad one no matter what.

I then saw a posting here that mentioned a difference in media
"types". Apparently mine must differ.

Given that, what is my best course of action for getting this
corrected without having to re-install the OS from scratch?

Can I do a Repair? Is an Update install better? I have XP running
absolutely perfectly on that system so I really don't want to have to
rebuild it all again.

Thanks.

If you are trying to install a WinXP Service Pack and getting the
following:

The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q326904

You need to purchase and a _legitimate_ retail or OEM full license
of WinXP Pro to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation,
using the new CDs and Product Keys.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341



--

Bruce Chambers

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[smlunatick]

The illegal CD key is not the same "type" of key as the new one. XP
has 3 different distribution CD key types (these are the main ones.)

OEM
Retail
Volume License

The CD key are NOT inter-changable.