How do i change an XP pro corporate key to an xp pro key

this is mi probleme
i have a customer who has 30 computers with 30 XP Pro licenses but the original vendor installed XP pro corporate on one computer and gost the hard drive for the other 29 units.
i need to change the activation key from a pro corporate key to a pro key.
i have tried to change the key but since corporate and pro dont use the same sequence of keys i cant change the key.
i dont want to format all 30 computers
any suggestion
thank you

 

do a "Repair Install "

I'm pretty sure that you will have to do a "Repair Install" with an XP Pro CD that has at least the same service pack level that the corporate XP was using. The "Repair Install" would go much faster if you copy the new I386 (with the SP2 slipstreamed, if necessary) folder from the new CD to each computer and launch the repair from there. No HD contents will be lost, but security updates will have to be re-applied.

Good Luck
Top Dog

 

It sounds like a problem for the original vendor. If that vendor is still in business, I'd contact that vendor for the correct license and installation.

Or, I'd call Microsoft. I'm sure they are willing to make an accomodation for someone who has been hosed by a vendor.

 

"Repair Install "

Got to thinking about my earlier response about doing a "Repair Install" and now remember that this was a Win2K situation. However, TonyT, I am curious about the results of the XP key change routine that MS describes. Just changing the key really doesn't change the fact that the originally installed corporate version is still a corporate version. Do you think that using a corporate XP product version with a valid 'standard' XP Pro key may not still make this an valid installation in M$'s view? The "Repair Install" will turn the XP corporate operating system back into a standard XP Pro system and will require activation.
What do you think?
Top Dog

 

The solution posted about changing keys is for changing one VLK (Volume License Key aka corporate) to another. I believe that VLK and "standard" editions have keys of differing lenghts, therefore a standard pro key will not be accepted.

Again, this seems to be a problem created by the original vendor. If the customer paid for legitimate licenses, I would contact Microsoft. They are very accomodating. They have an interest in their customers not being cheated. They may issue a VLK at nominal charge for the victimization.

 

pinceau,

I use an XP Gold (no activation Corp Edition) CD to preform an update (from older version OS) install which XP Pro OEM CD will not do. Then I immediately insert the OEM CD, in Windows, and it will "upgrade" the Gold install to OEM install requiring the OEM key and subsequent activation.

I have also done the boot to CD install as if you are going to do a "new" install (DO NOT choose "recovery" or "repair" options on the first screen where you see those options). Go all the way to where you are informed that there is already an OS installed and then use the "R" key option to do the 'repair' install of the OEM over the Gold.