Changing XP serial number on T43

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FreeSolaris10 · #1 Post by **FreeSolaris10** » Sun May 14, 2006 5:17 am

Gurus,

I have a T43 with FP.
I had bit of problem with Windows XP earlier and reinstalled with a pirated copy borrowed from a friend out of urgency since I didn't have rescue CD with me.

Now, I wanna convert the copy of windows to the legal one. When I tried to change the windows key with the serial key on the bottom of the laptop, it's not taking it.
I suppose I have to use IBM's rescue CDs (I do have them now),
is there any simple way to covert the XP to the original serial number? (without completely reinstalling that is)

Thanks in advance

mavis · #2 Post by **mavis** » Sun May 14, 2006 5:44 am

FreeSolaris10 wrote:Gurus,

I have a T43 with FP.
I had bit of problem with Windows XP earlier and reinstalled with a pirated copy borrowed from a friend out of urgency since I didn't have rescue CD with me.

Now, I wanna convert the copy of windows to the legal one. When I tried to change the windows key with the serial key on the bottom of the laptop, it's not taking it.
I suppose I have to use IBM's rescue CDs (I do have them now),
is there any simple way to covert the XP to the original serial number? (without completely reinstalling that is)

Thanks in advance

I did the same thing, it seemed much easier than going through the whole process of making an original install CD using the method posted here ...

Anyway, the version you got from a friend was probably a Corporate version, but the key from your ThinkPad is an OEM version, so Windows won't accept it. I even called Microsoft and tried to activate Windows using my IBM key and they told me it couldn't be done because the version of Windows I installed was corporate rather than OEM, and the keys are different.

Not that it particularly matters, IMHO - I mean, own a license for WindowsXP Professional, it came with my TP - so, it's not like I don't have the right to a copy of it ... Also, the fact that I can't use Windows Update is not really a big deal, as every update can be downloaded as a standalone package or even bundled together in an 'unofficial' monthly update. Is that why you want to change your key (btw)?

Wiz · #3 Post by **Wiz** » Sun May 14, 2006 6:18 am

To change the product key you could follow the steps below. Need a valid key though before you should do this. You OEM key won't work.

1. Goto START>RUN and type REGEDIT then press OK
Goto HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents. Double click the oobetimer and delete the two digits 'ca' of 'ff', then press OK and exit the reg editor. On systems with SP2 or newer you might not find 'ca' at the beginning of the string. In that case just delete the beginning whether it's 'FF' or some other value.

2. Goto START>RUN and type %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a then press OK. If the msoobe.exe won't run then try this. Goto START>RUN and type Regsvr32 /s licdll.dll then Regsvr32 /s regwizc.dll before step 3 below. (This is the activation dialog).

3. You want to select the second option then next (Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows).

4. You want to select the option Change Product Key.

5. You will need to enter your corp key here then click Update. After the WPA has accepted your new corp key, reboot your P.C.

6. To check if your P.C is activated with your new corp key, after your reboot goto START>RUN and type %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a again. You should get already activated.

#4 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sun May 14, 2006 12:40 pm

on of the mods removed this thread because he (or she) thought it might be unlawful..

i reviewed this thread and, IMO, do not find it to be so..

BUT i put it back here in the Windows OS confrence as this is pretty much where it belongs..

FreeSolaris10 · #5 Post by **FreeSolaris10** » Mon May 15, 2006 8:36 am

so it sounds like the only option I have is to completely reinstall?

I wanna use the legal copy since I have it now...i was just using a pirated copy because I urgently needed to use my laptop(biz school student). now I have the legal copy, I wanna covert back..well..hopefully without reinstalling and pain.

#6 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon May 15, 2006 8:52 am

This sounds like the time to use System Migration Assistant from IBM. I personally haven't tried it, but I think it would be worth a shot.

ThinkVantage System Migration Assistant

mavis · #7 Post by **mavis** » Mon May 15, 2006 3:32 pm

FreeSolaris10 wrote:I wanna use the legal copy since I have it now...i was just using a pirated copy because I urgently needed to use my laptop(biz school student). now I have the legal copy, I wanna covert back..well..hopefully without reinstalling and pain.

Why are you so concerned about having a "legal" copy? Technically the copy you're using now is legal, you own the right to have Windows XP Professional installed on your notebook, which is exactly what you have ...

Wiz · #8 Post by **Wiz** » Mon May 15, 2006 5:56 pm

I think you have to do a reinstall with the OEM version unless you got another legal product key you can use instead of the OEM Key that is not working with your current installation. Maybe you can find someone who managed to convert to a OEM installation, but i don't know how to do it and if it's possible at all.

Like GomJabber said you could try the System Migration Assistant. I never used it so don't know how well it will work.

A reason to not continue using a illegal product key even if you got a valid license could be that annoying popup from the systray because it's not valid and that new patches might not install at all. Also that you might not be able to download stuff from Microsoft or use windows update unless the key is validated ok by MS. Except from that i agree mavis.

#9 Post by **bill bolton** » Mon May 15, 2006 6:01 pm

mavis wrote:Technically the copy you're using now is legal, you own the right to have Windows XP Professional installed on your notebook, which is exactly what you have ...

No.

The XP license purchased with a ThinkPad, (that is, the key that is on the Certificate of Authenticity) is for an OEM version of XP, so that it what you have a "right" to use. OEM licences for XP carry different conditions to "retail" XP licences

Installing a retail version of XP with a retail key which you don't own a certificate of authenticity for own is definitely not legal in any jurisdiction I am aware of, even if you have a Certificate of Authenticity with an OEM key.

Cheers,

Bill

mavis · #10 Post by **mavis** » Tue May 16, 2006 3:57 am

bill bolton wrote:
mavis wrote:Technically the copy you're using now is legal, you own the right to have Windows XP Professional installed on your notebook, which is exactly what you have ...
No.

The XP license purchased with a ThinkPad, (that is, the key that is on the Certificate of Authenticity) is for an OEM version of XP, so that it what you have a "right" to use. OEM licences for XP carry different conditions to "retail" XP licences

Installing a retail version of XP with a retail key which you don't own a certificate of authenticity for own is definitely not legal in any jurisdiction I am aware of, even if you have a Certificate of Authenticity with an OEM key.

Cheers,

Bill

Thanks for the clarification, that makes sense ...

I really wish IBM/Lenovo sold OEM WinXP install discs, rather than forcing people to go through the whole convoluted mess of making their own if they want a truly "clean" install ... I burned a set of recovery discs before I formatted my drive, but I didn't bother taking the time to make a clean install disc, not when it takes a whopping FIVE minutes on my 100mbps fiber connection to download a fully functional SP2+rollup disc, all ready to go ... Now it seems the only way I'll be able to change to a legal version of WinXP is to wipe both of my partitions, reinstall from the recovery discs, go through setup all over again, create a new clean install disc, reformat AGAIN, and re-install AGAIN.

I think I'll pass ...

Wiz · #11 Post by **Wiz** » Tue May 16, 2006 4:38 am

I agree mavis, i would prefer to have a standard Windows CD instead of this installation with lot of applications i don't need and don't want. The company i work for got a volume license key, but if not i would have bought my own license to use instead of the OEM version. At least IBM could give you the option to install just windows without any applications or old driver for those that prefer to download the latest driver when doing a new installation.
I always delete the disk when i get a new PC to reinstall with a standard windows CD.

#12 Post by **bill bolton** » Tue May 16, 2006 5:10 am

mavis wrote:I really wish IBM/Lenovo sold OEM WinXP install discs

They do, see the Support & Downloads area for your ThinkPad model on the IBM website!

Cheers,

Bill

#13 Post by **bill bolton** » Tue May 16, 2006 5:21 am

Wiz wrote:i would prefer to have a standard Windows CD instead of this installation with lot of applications i don't need and don't want.

You can get one from Microsoft for a few tens of $ if you want it that badly. Ring them up and tell them that you didn't get install CDs with your ThinkPad that has an OEM CoA for XP.

As long as you tell them a consistent story and are able to give them a valid OEM key number, they will sell you an appropriately licenced generic XP install CD that you can use with the key on the CoA of your ThinkPad.

Cheers,

Bill

mavis · #14 Post by **mavis** » Tue May 16, 2006 6:12 am

bill bolton wrote:
mavis wrote:I really wish IBM/Lenovo sold OEM WinXP install discs
They do, see the Support & Downloads area for your ThinkPad model on the IBM website!

Cheers,

Bill

Well, I'm looking but I don't see anything on the site. I searched by my T43's model number and it says in the product description that it does come with WinXP Pro, but I don't see anywhere I download an installation disc ... ?

#15 Post by **bill bolton** » Tue May 16, 2006 7:42 am

mavis wrote:Well, I'm looking but I don't see anything on the site.

See How can I get a Product Recovery CD?

Cheers,

Bill

#16 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue May 16, 2006 9:31 am

mavis wrote:I really wish IBM/Lenovo sold OEM WinXP install discs, rather than forcing people to go through the whole convoluted mess of making their own if they want a truly "clean" install ... I burned a set of recovery discs before I formatted my drive, but I didn't bother taking the time to make a clean install disc...........

Bill, if I am reading this correctly, mavis does not want the Product Recovery Disc set which installs Windows XP along with IBM's software. He wants a "clean" Windows XP OEM disc.

Mavis, if you want a "clean" OEM disc, I do not think you will get it from IBM. IBM will sell you the Product Recovery Disc set that will restore Windows XP with IBM's software and drivers. If you want a "clean" install, you will need to go through the convoluted mess as you call it. The only other way is to pay for a Full Retail Version of Windows XP Pro, at ~$300.

Mavis, you said you burned a set of recovery discs. Did you use Rescue and Recovery to burn them, or did you use the Create Recovery Discs option (something different than Rescue and Recovery). If you haven't yet burned the Product Recovery Discs, you can still burn one set. That is if you haven't removed or damaged the necessary software that comes with the new ThinkPad.

mavis · #17 Post by **mavis** » Tue May 16, 2006 4:03 pm

GomJabbar wrote:Bill, if I am reading this correctly, mavis does not want the Product Recovery Disc set which installs Windows XP along with IBM's software. He wants a "clean" Windows XP OEM disc.

Mavis, if you want a "clean" OEM disc, I do not think you will get it from IBM. IBM will sell you the Product Recovery Disc set that will restore Windows XP with IBM's software and drivers. If you want a "clean" install, you will need to go through the convoluted mess as you call it. The only other way is to pay for a Full Retail Version of Windows XP Pro, at ~$300.

Mavis, you said you burned a set of recovery discs. Did you use Rescue and Recovery to burn them, or did you use the Create Recovery Discs option (something different than Rescue and Recovery). If you haven't yet burned the Product Recovery Discs, you can still burn one set. That is if you haven't removed or damaged the necessary software that comes with the new ThinkPad.

You're right - I want a plain old 'vanilla' WinXP Pro install. I made a set of recovery discs (there are six or seven CDs, I think) using Rescue and Recovery (I think) but whatever it was, it said it would allow me to restore the TP to out-of-the-box condition - I wanted this option just in case, but it's definately NOT how I want to install Windows. I don't need a hidden partition, I don't need half of the software that came with the TP, and I know how to get the half that I actually DO want. I just want to do a clean Windows install ...

#18 Post by **bill bolton** » Tue May 16, 2006 7:07 pm

GomJabbar wrote:The only other way is to pay for a Full Retail Version of Windows XP Pro, at ~$300.

See my response to Wiz above....... there is a much less expensive and legal solution.

The replacement XP OEM install CD from Microsoft costs at tad less than AUD$42 in Australia. Perhaps someone else here can say what it costs in the US, and other countries

Cheers,

Bill

#19 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue May 16, 2006 7:53 pm

bill bolton wrote:The replacement XP OEM install CD from Microsoft costs at tad less than AUD$42 in Australia. Perhaps someone else here can say what it costs in the US, and other countries

I take it that you are talking about a Windows XP Pro OEM CD that does not include any of the IBM software. I didn't know this was available. I imagine alot of "clean" installers would like this information.

masterus · #20 Post by **masterus** » Wed May 17, 2006 3:44 am

Hi

Everyone probably knows the: Magic Bean Key Finder..in version 1.41 there's option which allows to change XP key..

Regards

Changing XP serial number on T43

Changing XP serial number on T43

Re: Changing XP serial number on T43

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