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I purchased a used PC with Windows XP Pro. While trying to do updates
recently, I was told by Microsoft that I had an illegal copy of XP. I will
buy a legit copy. Can I just change the key to t he new one I buy OR will I
have to do a complete reinstall of XP?

Thanks

K

"Kevin M" <> wrote in message
news:Ftc6g.82$...
>I purchased a used PC with Windows XP Pro. While trying to do updates
>recently, I was told by Microsoft that I had an illegal copy of XP. I will
>buy a legit copy. Can I just change the key to t he new one I buy OR will I
>have to do a complete reinstall of XP?
>
> Thanks
>
> K

Hold on a second! Before you go purchasing a copy of Windows XP
Professional, are you absolutely sure Microsoft identified your copy as
"illegal"? Have you called Microsoft and read off the Product ID Code to
them?

Kevin wrote:
> "Kevin M" <> wrote in message
> news:Ftc6g.82$...
>> I purchased a used PC with Windows XP Pro. While trying to do updates
>> recently, I was told by Microsoft that I had an illegal copy of XP. I will
>> buy a legit copy. Can I just change the key to t he new one I buy OR will I
>> have to do a complete reinstall of XP?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> K
>
> Hold on a second! Before you go purchasing a copy of Windows XP
> Professional, are you absolutely sure Microsoft identified your copy as
> "illegal"? Have you called Microsoft and read off the Product ID Code to
> them?
>
>

good point there are many cases where the Windows Genuine Advantage
software gives false positives on a perfectly legit OS.

No, but the original owner told me (after the fact) that is was a "corp"
version of XP. I don't mind buying a legit copy, but I just don't want to
reinstall XP if possible. I found a utility which will allow me to change
the product key. I was hopeing that I caould just change the product key to
the legit key I purchase?

Thanks

Kevin M wrote:
> No, but the original owner told me (after the fact) that is was a "corp"
> version of XP. I don't mind buying a legit copy, but I just don't want to
> reinstall XP if possible. I found a utility which will allow me to change
> the product key. I was hopeing that I caould just change the product key to
> the legit key I purchase?
>
> Thanks
>
>

How to change the Volume Licensing product key on a computer that is
running Windows XP SP1 and later versions of Windows XP.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874

JD

"Kevin M" <> wrote in news:Ftc6g.82$:

> I purchased a used PC with Windows XP Pro. While trying to do updates
> recently, I was told by Microsoft that I had an illegal copy of XP. I
> will buy a legit copy. Can I just change the key to t he new one I buy
> OR will I have to do a complete reinstall of XP?

This program will help you change your product key-

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...s/RockXP.shtml