How can I "legalize" windows XP?

[mcveigh]

A few years ago I built a PC for a friend with OEM version of XP PRO. several months ago the hard drive died. I didn't have time to fix it for her, so I just got her a new HD, and she took it to her IT guy at work and he said he reinstall windoes for her.
So now I find out he just but an illegal copy on there:disgust:

Shes trying to do windows update and is getting the illegal software message and such.
can I just replace the activation code with the correct code from her COA?
what tool should I use to do this?

 

[Lord Banshee]

Unless it is the exact same CD OEM disk from factory and what her IT guy installed then the COA will not work. You will have to install the windowsxp from the factory CD for that COA to work.. sorry.

At least this my personal experience trying to use an OEM WinXP disk to replaced the bloated winxp that came with a friends XP HP and compaq machine. Had to reinstall the factory CD in the end.

 

[Stattlich]

Originally posted by: mcveigh
can I just replace the activation code with the correct code from her COA?
what tool should I use to do this?

I think so- just do it over the phone. I just did it this afternoon for my server actually after I had to reinstall Windows and the whole process took less than 5 minutes.

Start your 'Activate Windows' wizard and select the Telephone button at the bottom.

 

[stockriderman]

There's a program outhere that allows you to change your CD key and so on.

 

[Lord Banshee]

the cd key changer does not work all the time, product keys are not all the same for every type of windows, and there are alot of different types. A product key for OEM XP build 2600 will not work for OEM XP build 25xx and so on.

The phone method is your best method.

 

[jfunk]

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

This will let you change keys from corp to retail/oem. Not sure if this works if you're going to Home or not.

 

[mcveigh]

thanks for all the help everyone, I'll let you know what happens

 

[biostud]

http://www.petri.co.il/change_the_serial_in_windows_xp.htm

 

[Spike]

I had the same problem and even after calling up ms it was not resolved. They game me a code that was supposed to work but I still got the illegal thing when I did updates. I just disabled the checker program and left it at that.

 

[plonk420]

yeah, all the following are completely different (unfortunately) Home OEM / Home OEM Upgrade / Home Retail / Home Retail Upgrade / Pro OEM / Pro OEM Upgrade / Pro Retail / Pro Retail Upgrade / Corp / MCE2002/2004/2005 (i'm not sure how the MCE2002vs04vs05 work, tho, if they'll accept each others' keys)