Thanks Adam for your reply! unfortunately the usual pc guy does exhist. Why
he installed a VL key when I have the COA sticker on my machine is anybodys
guess.!!!
I was wondering would you know if I was able to get a copy of genuine
software, would I be able to use one of the programmes, readily downloadable
from the net to change the key on the installed software, or would I have to
do a full uninstall/reinstall, with the genuine software.?

"Adam Leinss" wrote:

> "=?Utf-8?B?VGVzY28=?=" <Tesco@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> news:94A4A318-DBF6-4E11-A640-65902FC4E1B6@microsoft.com:
>
> > I'm concerned that Big brother is now watching more closely, and
> > that I may not be getting all the relevant updates for my
> > computer. If I cant find the original disks, I would fork out some
> > cash for another OEM version, but I heard somewhere that even if
> > you have a VLK blocked copy of XP,that you can purchase a fresh
> > key and reactivate the software to pass validation.But im not sure
> > how to go about this or what the cost compared to an OEM disk
> > would be. Basically I want to avoid an uninstall/reinstall, and am
> > looking for the best way forward.at a reasonable price.
>
> As it stands right now, you'll still get updates through Automatic
> Updates, even with a blocked VL copy of Windows XP.
>
> Again, that could change tomorrow. Microsoft has gone back and forth
> on this issue. Without a complete wipe, there's no way that Microsoft
> is going to give you a valid volume license key unless you buy 5 or
> more copies of Windows XP (under Open licensing).
>
> BTW, your "usual PC guy" (if he exists) can get in serious hot water
> with Microsoft if he's doing that for other people!
>
> Adam
>