A. To change your XP CD-ROM key, perform the following steps:
- Create a system restore checkpoint, in case you encounter a problem.
- Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).
- Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents registry subkey.
- Edit the OOBETimer value, modify any one character, then click OK.
- Start the CD-ROM key Activation Wizard--click Start, Run and type
\%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
- Select the "Activate by Phone" option.
- At the product key screen, enter your new key, then click Update.
- If the wizard returns you to the previous window, click "Remind me later," then restart the machine.
- Repeat Step 5. XP will display the message "Windows is already activated. Click OK to exit."
You can also use the following script that Microsoft provides to change the CD-ROM key:
' ' Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Script - ChangeVLKey.vbs ' ' This script changes the product key on the computer. Service Pack 1 ' must be installed. ' '******************************************************************** ON ERROR RESUME NEXT if Wscript.arguments.count<1 then Wscript.echo "Script can't run without VolumeProductKey argument" Wscript.echo "Correct usage: Cscript ChangeVLKey.vbs ABCDE-FGHIJ- KLMNO-PRSTU-WYQZX" Wscript.quit end if Dim VOL_PROD_KEY VOL_PROD_KEY = Wscript.arguments.Item(0) VOL_PROD_KEY = Replace(VOL_PROD_KEY,"-","") 'remove hyphens if any for each Obj in GetObject("winmgmts:\{impersonationLevel=impersonate\}").InstancesOf ("win32_WindowsProductActivation") result = Obj.SetProductKey (VOL_PROD_KEY) if err <> 0 then WScript.Echo Err.Description, "0x" & Hex(Err.Number) Err.Clear end if Next
To use this script, go to the command prompt and run
changevlkey.vbs <new key>
where <new key> is the name of the new key that you want to activate (e.g., ab123-ab123-ab123-ab123-ab123).
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