Can't install SP2

I get a massage about key or instalation code , I would like to change the code to a new one , how can I do that without installing Win XP from begining.

Thank's

 

blumash--Could you be more precise about that message and when you get it? Each MS Windows CD comes with a Product Key (25 letters and numbers) necessary to activate the license to use the CD. It is unlikely you can use that CD with another Product Key. You have to keep that Product Key information in a safe place.

 

Get IT Done: Change the product key on Windows XP

You can give that a try or you could try using the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder . Supposedly you can use it to change the product key. I had a look at it and to do this you click on the options menu>change windows key. I've never used it so I can't tell you one way or the other whether it works. I suspect it does. Have a look at the FAQs.

You should be able to use any key as long as it comes from the same type of XP cd as what you have installed (home, pro, corporate, etc.) and as long as it hasn't been used before on another computer. In other words, if you have XP Pro installed and you buy an XP Pro cd, you should be able to use the key from the new cd to change the one in your present installation. However, an XP Home key wouldn't work in this situation.

 

Thank's Zander , I solved the problem with the Keyfinder program , thanks' again.

 

Glad to hear it. Thanks for posting back with the info. It's nice to know the program works.

 

I am floored.
Blumash's original post seems to say there is a message asking for the Product Key. We are not told whether this is prior to or after initial installation though it sounds like it is after the fact. In that case, why is there a message?
Now I learn there is a procedure to "change" the Product Key without necessarily knowing the existing Product Key of the installed Windows OS (or the Product Key for an uninstalled OS?).
I have seen numerous threads where we declined to offer help to people who did not know their Product Key and have come across a situation where the OS is inoperable without it. Why would we not just have suggested the procedure that Zander has offered?
And concerning Magical Jelly Bean--The Product Key that Magical Jelly Bean provides is not necessarily the Product Key for the OS installed as OEM. For my Dell I was given a Product Key (I presume so I could reinstall the OS if needed and I think I had to use it when I first started the PC), but when I use Magical Jelly Bean I get an entirely different Product Key. In an earlier thread, it was explained that Dell gets a "master" product key and installation disk, but when they install the OS on an individual PC they assign another Product Key, and that the one found from Magical Jelly Bean will not work. I have never tried the one from Magical Jelly Bean. I was convinced from that thead that it would not work.

 

Jim, You can rest assured that the OEM key pulled out by Magic Jelly Bean will not work. It is of a special nature and not reusable for a clean install since it was issued for mass installation of OEM boxes that use OEM recovery CD's for reinstalls.

The other info offered is correct. You can use the proper type of key on any CD of that same type. You cannot however use it on two system simultaneously since you will not be allowed to activate one of them.

When the info was asked for on other posts, there was no indication that the asking party had another full install type of key to use. If they did, it would mean that they had purchased same and they would be entitled to use it as they saw fit. With that, they wouldn't be asking how to retrieve an OEM product code, now would they?

Changing the product code is allowed.

 

Jim,

I will see if I can help clear this up a bit. There are several different types of keys that work on XP and they depend on what version you have.

OEM - OS is pre-installed when you buy a new pc (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
Retail - You go to the store and buy a copy of XP
Corp. - Your organization buys a volume license which doesn't require windows activation

When XP was first released the corp version got released on the Internet. That version came with several product keys. When SP1 was release Microsoft had black listed most of those keys, therefore SP1 could not be installed unless you changed the product keys. Within a very short time new keys that would allow SP1 to be installed were released on the Internet along with several programs to change the keys. I assume the same thing probably happened when SP2 was released.

So you can change your product key provided that key works with the version of XP you have (OEM, Retail, or Corp). I expect since this site doesn't support warez that that is why in the past no one mentioned doing this. There really shouldn't be a need to do this if you have legitimate licenses and product keys for XP.

Eric

 

The program Keyfinder doesn't provide any key(s) for XP , it's show the product key in which the XP was installed with & give the user the possibility to change the product key to a new one.
In my case the XP was installed long ago with a ilegal key & SP1 couldn't be installed , I bought a new XP with a product key & looked for a way to change my exsisting product key without installing the XP from screach , the Keyfinder is a perfect small program to do that , after changing the key the SP2 was installed with no problems.

 

surferdude2--

Well, we do not know blumash's situation so I won't be specific to it, though I do wonder why there was a "message ". And notice the issue from blumash's title is "Can't Install SP2 ".
However, more broadly, it seems, based on the info I have learned from this thread, that anyone (legit or not) could disable the exisiting Product Key (even without knowing what it was), call up MS, get a new Product Key and be (back) in business. So no one needs to retrieve the exisiting code. They can just get a new one. (Wonder why MS made it so hard to learn the Product Key from the Registry on XP systems.) The only people who would be stopped would be those who cannot get into the OS to disable the existing key. And maybe Magical Jelly Bean would solve even their problem. Or did I miss something?
P.S. Thanks for confirming my understanding about OEM Product Keys.
ericiga--Your post came in while I was typing this. Thanks for the additional information.

 

Here's a quote from blumash.

I see no harm in helping somebody make a wrong into a right. If blumash purchased XP and wants to correct things, why not help. Apparently it's OK with MS. I found a couple articles in the MS knowledge base related to this. The only reason I didn't post them instead is because they didn't say anything about applying to XP Home or Pro. Only the corp. edition. I posted the other page which is basically the same solution as on the MS page because the person that wrote the page made a reference to it working for him/her on Home and Pro. I thought if I posted the MS page the first thing that would happen would be that blumash would say it doesn't say anything about it applying to Home or Pro (or whatever). Then I'd have to post a link to the other page to show that somebody had tried it and it works. Get my drift here?

That said, if you look at the FAQ's for the Magical Jellybean Finder, you'll see one related to this. The author states that the program uses a script from the MS knowledge base article to change the key (also, there's a pointer to the MS page).

You can view the page it points to here.

How to change the Volume Licensing product key on a Windows XP SP1-based computer

 

It's just a good thing Arie didn't catch you earlier. He would have rule #6 ed you and locked the thread.

 

I thought about this before I posted to this thread and in all honesty, I can't see how I (we) would be violating any policy of MS when they have an article in their knowledge base telling exactly how to do this. Sorry if I messed up but it seems to me that if MS didn't want this done they wouldn't have the kb article. Look at it this way. If somebody is using an illegit key and wants to set it straight, what's to gain by making them reinstall windows to do it. The only possible reason I can see would be for MS to be able to say "tough luck buddy, take this ". I suspect they are more than happy to take the money and let whoever continue on. What's the difference? They got their money in the end. If they didn't allow this, I'd be willing to bet that those using illegit keys would be less apt to try to set things right.

 

I agree but you know how Arie is. He thinks he owns the place.

 

LOL Dude!

 

I had not seen blumash's post of 14:16 when I typed mine of 14:30. Guess he lucked out.