How to Replace the Windows XP Key
- 1). Click the Windows "Start" button and select "Run."
- 2). Type "regedit" and click "OK." This command opens the Windows Registry Editor.
- 3). Open the following Registry folder: "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents"
- 4). Look to the right-hand side of the Registry Editor screen and double-click the "ODBETimer" key.
- 5). Change at least one character of the key value, using a number between 0 and 9, or a letter between A and F. Changing the key value removes the association between the existing product key and Windows XP.
- 6). Click "OK" to confirm the change and close the Registry Editor.
- 7). Click the Windows "Start" button and select "Run."
- 8). Type "%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe /a" (without quotation marks) and click "OK" to open the Windows Product Activation Wizard.
- 9). Select "Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows" and click "Next."
- 10
Click "Change Product Key," enter the 25-character replacement product key value from your new copy of Windows XP, and click "Update." Select the "Remind Me Later" option if the program returns you to the previous screen. - 11
Restart your computer. - 12
Follow the on-screen prompts after the computer restarts to reactivate your Windows XP installation. These prompts will not appear if you use the Corporate edition of Windows XP.
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