#Changing serial number windows xp serial number#
#Changing serial number windows xp install#
#Changing serial number windows xp serial#
#Changing serial number windows xp software#

The script method is the practical solution for changing the product keys on a large number of machines. It may work on a Home or Professional installation, but I have not tested this scenario. The script method is outlined in article 328874 and is designed to work on Corporate Edition installations that use a VLK and do not require activation. The registry editing method is outlined in Knowledge Base articles 321674 and works on Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, and Windows XP Corporate Edition. You can change a Windows XP installation’s product key either by editing the registry or by using one of two Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) scripts. Two methods of changing Windows XP’s product key None of the procedures described below will work without a legitimate product key. If the ID matches either of the two models commonly associated with VLK fraud, you’ll need to obtain a valid XP product key before proceeding. The machine’s product ID will be located under the Registered To section. You can also directly check the OS’sproduct ID by right-clicking on My Computer, clicking Properties, and selecting the General tab. For more information about obtaining a valid product key, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 326904. You are dealing with a pirated copy of Windows. Please contact your system administrator or retailer immediately to obtain a valid Product Key…”

#Changing serial number windows xp install#

The Product Key used to install Windows is invalid. If you try to install SP1 and get the following error message: Shortly after releasing Windows XP, Microsoft realized that most pirated XP installations were using two specific VLKs, the most popular of which begins with “FCKGW.” These VLKs produce product IDs that match either XXXXX-640-0000356-23XXX or XXXXX-640-2001765-23XXX, where X is any number. But if you’re unsure, a quick way to tell is to install Service Pack 1. Hopefully you already know if you’re dealing with a pirated copy of XP. When situations like these arise, changing XP’s product key is often the most practical-or only-solution.ĭetermining if you have a valid product ID Perhaps an end user purchased an additional retail license for XP but needs to use his original CD to install the software. Maybe you’ve been hired by an organization that installed 100 pirated copies of XP but now has a legitimate volume-licensing key (VLK).

#Changing serial number windows xp software#

However, software does tend to get installed without authorization, even in the most carefully managed shops, and so from time to time you may need to reset the XP product key.įor example, perhaps a user installed a pirated copy of XP but now wants to go legal.

#Changing serial number windows xp serial#

It is getting difficult to download anything from Microsoft without a valid serial number.Get IT Done: Change the product key on Windows XPĬhange the Windows XP product key by editing the registry or using a Microsoft WMI scriptįor most Windows XP installs, you’ll never need to worry about the validity of the product key assigned to your copy of the OS.

#Changing serial number windows xp serial number#

It pays to have a valid serial number on all of your machines – in more ways than just keeping the BSA happy. The activation wizard should load and tell you your copy of windows has already been activated. You can then check if the serial number has been changed, and is valid by calling this at the command line:

XPChangeSerial.vbs xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx Simply save the script file to a convient location, and call it from the command line using the new serial number: Serial Change script for XP w/sp1 or greater: XPChangeSerialSP1.vbs Serial Change script for XP: XPChangeSerial.vbs Microsoft has provided two scripts for updating a Windows XP serial number. In these situations it is nice to change the machine to a valid serial number without having to totally re-install the operating system. Right from the start I make sure the customer purchases the proper licensing from Microsoft – It only takes one call from an angry employee to cause the company a world of grief. Many times when I start working at a new customer I find a few copies of XP that have a pirated serial number, or the same number used over and over.