Windows Genuine Advantage - Legal Copy of XP

[Guest]

Hypothetically, if I have an 'illegal' copy of XP Pro which fails Windows
Genuine Advantage verification and then buy a legal copy, do I have to do a
complete re-install or can I just type the 'kosher' number in somewhere?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

First, you'll need to purchase a "Full Version" of
Windows XP Professional.

Then, you'll have to perform a "Repair Install" using the
new Product Key and the Windows XP CD that came
with it.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

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

:

| Hypothetically, if I have an 'illegal' copy of XP Pro which fails Windows
| Genuine Advantage verification and then buy a legal copy, do I have to do a
| complete re-install or can I just type the 'kosher' number in somewhere?

 

[Michael Bednarek]

Hypothetically, if I have an 'illegal' copy of XP Pro which fails Windows
Genuine Advantage verification and then buy a legal copy, do I have to do a
complete re-install or can I just type the 'kosher' number in somewhere?

From what I hear, the "Magic Jelly Bean Keyfinder"
(<http://www.magicaljellybean.com/>) can change the key.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Wrong. You cannot change the Product Key since the pirated
version was installed using a Volume License CD. A Retail
Product Key will only work if the installation was performed
using a Retail Windows XP CD.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

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

:

| From what I hear, the "Magic Jelly Bean Keyfinder"
| (<http://www.magicaljellybean.com/>) can change the key.
|
| --
| Michael Bednarek http://mbednarek.com/ "POST NO BILLS"

 

[Guest]

Gosh, it would be nice if Microsoft could come up with an easy method for
users who find they have an 'unlicensed' copy of XP to 'upgrade' to a kosher
one!

 

[Rashputin]

No foolin. As part of my compensation for a contract with a large company
I got a machine with the OS and some other software already installed. Now,
it looks like I didn't get anything but the hardware since several things
won't upgrade or permit download of fixes. It just goes to show you, them
that has gets, and them that don't have don't (or, maybe not).

Regards

 

[Michael Bednarek]

Wrong. You cannot change the Product Key since the pirated
version was installed using a Volume License CD. A Retail
Product Key will only work if the installation was performed
using a Retail Windows XP CD.

How do you know that? The OP didn't write anything about VLK.

Even so, AFAIK the JellyBean method is just a programmatical
implementation of MS-KB article Q328874 (1), which refers specifically
to leaked VLK installations. I presume if Microsoft publish this method
and JellyBean implements it, it works. Have you found it not to?

As shown by the original post, it would be very much against Microsoft's
interests to make this procedure difficult or impossible.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Stu;
See if this applies:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Contact the company and possibly Microsoft.
If the company will not help, Microsoft may be interested in the company
distributing pirated software:
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/Reporting.mspx
If you did not also receive the licence, CD etc, they did not give you a
legitimate license.

 

[Rashputin]

Oh, I got the Key and CD, MS upgrade site just says it's a VLK and I must
be a pie rat or have an illegal copy. I doubt they installed a pirated
version since they upgraded hundreds of machines from 2k, but what the heck,
I just got the thing in a box at work one day with everything installed by
their IT folks. Maybe I'll write MS and see if they go after a fortune 100
company over a copy they shouldn't have passed out. My bet is they'll just
tell me to buy a copy which is what I'll eventually do if I get too worried
about upgrades not working. SP2 upgrade went fine, but with the new check
on their sites everything seems to fail and tell me I have an illegal copy.

Thanks for the thoughts,

Regards

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Effectively you do have pirated Windows XP since they can not give away the
licenses that way.
Unfortunately you may need to buy Windows XP if you need it.
Whoever authorized the computer with the Volume License installed violated
the agreement with Microsoft and most likely company policy.