How do I change XP Product ID - not key?

[ESQ]

I have a machine that I wanted to return to new. It has XP Home on it but I do not have the restore cd. It has a COA sticker on it and I ran "productkey" and retrieved the ID and Key. I used another OEM XP Home cd (I installed it on another computer) to do a fresh install, but when I inputted the original Key from the machine it would not let me validate. I tried the Key from the sticker, still no luck. I checked and found that the ID did not match the original one on the machine prior to re-install. How do I change the ID so that the key will work and pass validation.

 

[janas19]

If you figure this out, let me know.

(Working on the exact same issue).

 

[nitrous9200]

If your copy of XP was pre-installed/preloaded by the OEM, a mass product installation key is used and can't be entered during setup. If you are using an OEM installation CD, the key on the sticker should work (I've done this many, many times). If you are having trouble activating online, have you tried calling the automated phone system? Online hasn't given me trouble for quite a while, but phoning never fails - if they ask how many computers you've installed with that copy of Windows, just say one (which should be true).

There are also ways to enable the OEM activation depending on what manufacturer you using SLP - google it. I've never used that though since the OEM disc and the key on the COA is enough...some people have said that install discs with SP3 integrated sometimes give trouble with product keys, though I haven't had that issue.

 

[Bubbaleone]

....I checked and found that the ID did not match the original one on the machine prior to re-install. How do I change the ID so that the key will work and pass validation.

Read this: How to Change the Product ID in Windows XP

 

[janas19]

Been doing some Googling, and in your situation it sounds like you will have to somehow change the Product ID which is on the installation disc, to match the Product ID of your computer (so that your CD KEY will work).

I'm not sure exactly HOW to change the Product ID on the install CD, but I think I know where you can find it. The Lunarsoft Wiki page states: "The MPC of your CDs can be determined by editing the SETUPP.INI in the i386 directory on your disc. You can (in some cases) simply edit this file, change the PID, and recompile the CD to be able to use whatever key you happen to need"

So theoretically you could copy the CD contents to your hard drive, edit the setupp.ini file, and then re-burn an ISO of the new files to a CD.

 

[bruceb]

This link may be of some help

http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Product_IDs#Windows_XP_complete_list_-_English_locale

This link tells how to change the product id to the correct one:
Your Product ID for Windows XP is here in the registry:

hklm\software\microsoft\windows nt\currentversion" /v ProductID

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

 

[Steltek]

Been doing some Googling, and in your situation it sounds like you will have to somehow change the Product ID which is on the installation disc, to match the Product ID of your computer (so that your CD KEY will work).

I'm not sure exactly HOW to change the Product ID on the install CD, but I think I know where you can find it. The Lunarsoft Wiki page states: "The MPC of your CDs can be determined by editing the SETUPP.INI in the i386 directory on your disc. You can (in some cases) simply edit this file, change the PID, and recompile the CD to be able to use whatever key you happen to need"

So theoretically you could copy the CD contents to your hard drive, edit the setupp.ini file, and then re-burn an ISO of the new files to a CD.

That is actually what you do.

Full retail (FPP) media can easily be modified to accept OEM product keys, and vice versa. Copy the CD to your hard drive. Locate and open SETUPP.INI (i386 directory) in Notepad. There should be a line similar to:

Pid=76477000

Doesn't matter what the number actually is (it will be different for Home, Professional, and other packages per the Lunarsoft WIKI chart). Just change the last three digits, whatever they are, to "OEM" (without quotes). e.g. Pid=76477000 would become Pid=76477OEM to go to an OEM media. Change the last three digits to the number shown on the Lunarsoft WIKI page to go from OEM to that version of retail.

That's should be all there is to it. Save and burn back to CD, and it should work with the appropriate product key.