XP Home CD Key with Professional disk?

[Guest]

Ok,

I formatted my hard disk and then realised that I had not got any Windows XP
Setup Disk because I had an OEM version, though I still had the Product Key
(for Windows XP Home Edition) on the sticker on the side of my computer.

I borrowed a Windows XP Professional Edition CD from my friend and tried to
install it using my Home Edition CD Key, which did not work so I used his own
CD Key - which I found out was also a pirated CD Key.

Of course, now I cannot pass validation and update my computer.

Is there any way to Validate my computer and put in my original Product Key
seeing it is a genuine Product Key?(preferrably without having to reformat or
reinstall windows).

I cannot turn to the PC Manufacturers as they have now gone out of business,

I do not want to spend £95 to purchase a Validation Kit obviously, so any
help you can provide me with would be intensely appreciated.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I formatted my hard disk and then realised that I had not got any
Windows XP Setup Disk because I had an OEM version, though I still
had the Product Key (for Windows XP Home Edition) on the sticker on
the side of my computer.

Having an OEM version does not preclude you from having an actual
Windows XP CD.

I borrowed a Windows XP Professional Edition CD from my friend and
tried to install it using my Home Edition CD Key, which did not
work so I used his own CD Key - which I found out was also a
pirated CD Key.

Of course it would not work - Windows XP Home and Professional
are not the same product. As for it being pirated... of course. hah

Of course, now I cannot pass validation and update my computer.
Yeah...

Is there any way to Validate my computer and put in my original
Product Key seeing it is a genuine Product Key?(preferrably without
having to reformat or reinstall windows).

No - you do not own Windows XP Professional. If you did, you might be able
to do a repair installation or just change the product key to your own valid
one.

I cannot turn to the PC Manufacturers as they have now gone out of
business,

That does suck.

I do not want to spend £95 to purchase a Validation Kit obviously,
so any help you can provide me with would be intensely appreciated.

If you can find an honest friend with a *generic* Windows XP Home Edition
OEM installalation CD - you might be able to use your product key to
perform a clean installation of your Windows XP Home Edition license
on your computer.

I say CLEAN because you have Professional installed now. The only method
to go from Windows XP Professional to Windows XP Home Edition is a
clean install - as it is a downgrade.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the quick reply! Soon as I track down the XP Home Edition disk
I'll let you know if it works.

 

[Rock]

Thanks for the quick reply! Soon as I track down the XP Home Edition disk
I'll let you know if it works.

Your license key will not work with a retail copy of XP Home. If it works
with anything it has to be an OEM copy.

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

Ok,

I formatted my hard disk and then realised that I had not got any Windows XP
Setup Disk because I had an OEM version, though I still had the Product Key
(for Windows XP Home Edition) on the sticker on the side of my computer.

I borrowed a Windows XP Professional Edition CD from my friend and tried to
install it using my Home Edition CD Key, which did not work so I used his own
CD Key - which I found out was also a pirated CD Key.

Even if it wasn't before, it became pirated as soon as you tried to
install it on a second PC.

As someone has probably said by now an OEM XP Home key (even if valid)
will only work with an OEM XP Home installation CD. If you speak nicely
to M$ they might even send you one (stranger things have happened). They
WON'T send you a free key for your stolen version of XP Pro though.

This assumes your PC maker was Michael Mouse rather than Michael Dell,
because large OEMs have keys which probably won't even work with a
normal OEM version. Since they went bust we can probably assume they
were not a household name ..

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Ok,

I formatted my hard disk and then realised that I had not got any Windows XP
Setup Disk because I had an OEM version, though I still had the Product Key
(for Windows XP Home Edition) on the sticker on the side of my computer.

I borrowed a Windows XP Professional Edition CD from my friend and tried to
install it using my Home Edition CD Key,

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of
CD/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.

... which did not work so I used his own
CD Key - which I found out was also a pirated CD Key.

Of course, now I cannot pass validation and update my computer.

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

Is there any way to Validate my computer and put in my original Product Key
seeing it is a genuine Product Key?(preferrably without having to reformat or
reinstall windows).

No. The only way to change from WinXP Pro to WinXP Home is to format
the drive and start over. There is no supported downgrade path or
technique.

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation,, simply boot from the WinXP Home installation CD. You'll
be offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as
part of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order
of boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Then the backed up data can be restored and applications re-installed.

Of course, you'll first need to obtain an OEM WinXP Home CD.



--

Bruce Chambers

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safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Ron Martell]

Ok,

I formatted my hard disk and then realised that I had not got any Windows XP
Setup Disk because I had an OEM version, though I still had the Product Key
(for Windows XP Home Edition) on the sticker on the side of my computer.

I borrowed a Windows XP Professional Edition CD from my friend and tried to
install it using my Home Edition CD Key, which did not work so I used his own
CD Key - which I found out was also a pirated CD Key.

Of course, now I cannot pass validation and update my computer.

Is there any way to Validate my computer and put in my original Product Key
seeing it is a genuine Product Key?(preferrably without having to reformat or
reinstall windows).

I cannot turn to the PC Manufacturers as they have now gone out of business,

I do not want to spend £95 to purchase a Validation Kit obviously, so any
help you can provide me with would be intensely appreciated.

See http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=326246
There is information there about getting replacement disks if your
original OEM has gone out of business.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Galen Somerville]

See http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=326246
There is information there about getting replacement disks if your
original OEM has gone out of business.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

As long as you have the Genuine product key sticker you can try the "Product
Key Update Tool".
It worked for me. The program ends up giving you a long string of numbers.
You have to call MS to activate with the number.

Use
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detai..._Windows_Product_Key_Update_Tool/1155742141/1

and click on large Download icon.

There used to be a direct download from MS but I can't find it now.

Galen

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I formatted my hard disk and then realised that I had not got any
Windows XP Setup Disk because I had an OEM version, though I still
had the Product Key (for Windows XP Home Edition) on the sticker on
the side of my computer.
I borrowed a Windows XP Professional Edition CD from my friend and
tried to install it using my Home Edition CD Key, which did not
work so I used his own CD Key - which I found out was also a
pirated CD Key.

<snippage>

As long as you have the Genuine product key sticker you can try the
"Product Key Update Tool".

Use
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detai..._Windows_Product_Key_Update_Tool/1155742141/1
and click on large Download icon.

There used to be a direct download from MS but I can't find it now.

Galen,

That would be great if the installed version of the operatinbg system was
the SAME as that the product key was meant for.

In this case - as the OP pointed out - they have a product key sticker for
Windows XP ome Edition and ended up with a pirated version of Windows XP
Professional Edition installed. It's not that they have a pirated Windows
XP Home Edition installed - for which I am sure the product key changer
would function - but that they have a product for which they have no
legitimate key for at all installed.

As for the direct download...

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