"=?Utf-8?B?VGVzY28=?=" <Tesco@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
news:55F3512D-3067-40D4-8705-830897EEBCB8@microsoft.com:

> 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.?

Volume media only takes volume licensed keys, OEM media OEM keys and so
on. Looks like it's a wipe and reload of XP Home for you.

PIDGEN.DLL determines the key algorithm (and no, I don't think you can
replace PIDGEN.DLL from the correct copy and make it work). PIDGEN.DLL
differs between OEM, Retail and VL.

Adam