When I got my computer, a friend reformatted the hard drive for me and
installed WinXP Pro. He used a pirated serial number during the install. My
windows will not validate.

I do, however, have a genuine copy of XP Pro. Is there any way of fixing the
current install so it uses my real serial without having to reinstall windows?

- Lex

Lex Kominek wrote:

> When I got my computer, a friend reformatted the hard drive for me and
> installed WinXP Pro. He used a pirated serial number during the install. My
> windows will not validate.
>
> I do, however, have a genuine copy of XP Pro. Is there any way of fixing the
> current install so it uses my real serial without having to reinstall windows?
>
> - Lex

Do a repair install with the legitimate copy and use the new CD key.
See this link:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Just to be safe make sure you have a backup of all important data.

--
Rock
MS MVP Windows - Shell/User

Lex Kominek wrote:
> When I got my computer, a friend reformatted the hard drive for me and
> installed WinXP Pro. He used a pirated serial number during the install. My
> windows will not validate.
>
> I do, however, have a genuine copy of XP Pro. Is there any way of fixing the
> current install so it uses my real serial without having to reinstall windows?
>
> - Lex


If you are trying to install a WinXP Service Pack and getting the
following:

The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q326904

You need to purchase and a _legitimate_ retail or OEM full license
of WinXP Pro to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation,
using the new CDs and Product Keys.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directo...;EN-US;Q315341


--

Bruce Chambers

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