-Solved- Windows XP Time to get legal

[Insidious]

A computer with Windows XP Professional (updated to SP2) but "evaluation" period is running out....

If I purchase a copy of Windows XP SP2, can I simply use the Microsoft Key Changing utility and switch to the key of the purchased OS?

If so, what type of package would I need to purchase?

OEM
Retail
upgrade

TIA :beer:

-Sid

 

[Insidious]

^^^

 

[Dahak]

None of those, but you could probably get away with the Upgrade

 

[Insidious]

Holy Cow.... I'm even more in the dark than I thought.

I don't understand why a full retail version wouldn't work

-Sid

In the MS KB I fould the article explaining how to change the key at time of activation, so I know (er... at least I think I do) that part is cool

PS: Thank you for the reply :beer:

 

[Ronin]

The keychanging works (I've done it in the past), and it's very simple (as the KB article implies).

For those that don't know where the article is:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q328874

 

[Dahak]

yes the key change goes work, but an oem or upgrade or retail key will not work on VLK media/os, which is what that article points to.
same goes for cant use a retail on a oem cd and vice-versa

 

[Insidious]

I'll go the MS Customer support route to see if I can get them to help me do this without a clean install. (Doesn't sound good )

I'll post back here when I find something out

Thanks for the great inputs! :beer:

-Sid

 

[Insidious]

The VLK did not allow a key change. Just gave the message "this copy already activated" and exited.

The call to MS customer support didn't go well either. (On hold for a long time and finally gave up to try another day)

Since I am backed up with a Ghost image on a second HD, I decided to go ahead and just try an install with the new disk (XP Pro Upgrade) choosing the Repair option (not the console) It worked pretty well. It only borked up a couple things (hardware device installs) and wasn't too painful.

So we're done, legal activated and enjoying a :beer:

-Sid