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    After a crash my repairman thought he did me a favour and installed Windows XP. Not my own legitimate version, but another version. After a month I discovered that version was not recognized as Genuine. I contacted Microsoft in the Netherlands and was told it is impossible to use my legitimate version somehow and convert the installed Windows XP into a Genuine version. Format C and start over, was the disappointing advice. After a month of installing software and finetuning I was not in the mood for such a drastic action. At the time, using an "illegal" version seemed to have no further consequences.

    Today I discovered I was unable to download the latest Windows updates. Suddenly the problem is very urgent indeed.

    I was surprised to read in this forum about a Repair Install of Windows XP. Seems like good news, as I have Windows XP and SP2. Also read about AutoStreamer. Is this the way to go?

    Monday, May 22, 2006 8:29 PM

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    You can perform a "Repair Install" only if you have the same version of Windows XP.  For example, you must have a genuine Windows XP Professional CD and Product Key in order to perform a repair install of a non-genuine Windows XP Professional installation.

    You cannot perform a repair install of a non-genuine Windows XP Professional installation using a genuine Windows XP Home Edition CD and Product Key because the versions of Windows XP are different.  The only way to replace a non-genuine Windows XP Professional installation with a genuine Windows XP Home Edition CD and Product Key is to perform a "clean install" which requires a refomat of the hard drive, thus removing the existing non-genuine Windows XP Professional installation prior to installing the genuine Windows XP Home Edition operating system.

     

    Clean Install Windows XP http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
    Monday, May 22, 2006 8:58 PM
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    Carey,

    I'm OK on this point: both Windows XP Professional. I think I read somewhere my old pre-SP2 version will refuse to Repair Install. This weekend I'll try it, but as I understand it I need to create a new cd-rom including SP2 (I have SP2 on cd-rom as well).

    Today I was told by a friend to simply change the ProductID in the Registry. It couldn't be that simple, is my gut reaction.

    Thanks for the advice,

    Han.

    Tuesday, May 23, 2006 5:07 PM
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    Hanzin:

     

    Can you verify if your COA sticker (http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/en/coa.mspx) matches your Product Key being used on your system? You can view your product key with the Genuine Advantage diagnostics tool (at least the last 15 digits) located here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 .

     

    The Genuine Advantage Product Key Update Tool is only valid for users attempting to change their current non-genuine Product Key to a genuine COA sticker or genuine Product Key – all without a reinstall! http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409

     

    I don't recommend just "changing your Product ID" in the registry. I guarantee something like that wont work, and will probably have ill-effects.

     

    Good luck!

     

    -Phil Liu

     

    Tuesday, May 23, 2006 6:28 PM

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    You can perform a "Repair Install" only if you have the same version of Windows XP.  For example, you must have a genuine Windows XP Professional CD and Product Key in order to perform a repair install of a non-genuine Windows XP Professional installation.

    You cannot perform a repair install of a non-genuine Windows XP Professional installation using a genuine Windows XP Home Edition CD and Product Key because the versions of Windows XP are different.  The only way to replace a non-genuine Windows XP Professional installation with a genuine Windows XP Home Edition CD and Product Key is to perform a "clean install" which requires a refomat of the hard drive, thus removing the existing non-genuine Windows XP Professional installation prior to installing the genuine Windows XP Home Edition operating system.

     

    Clean Install Windows XP http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
    Monday, May 22, 2006 8:58 PM
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    Carey,

    I'm OK on this point: both Windows XP Professional. I think I read somewhere my old pre-SP2 version will refuse to Repair Install. This weekend I'll try it, but as I understand it I need to create a new cd-rom including SP2 (I have SP2 on cd-rom as well).

    Today I was told by a friend to simply change the ProductID in the Registry. It couldn't be that simple, is my gut reaction.

    Thanks for the advice,

    Han.

    Tuesday, May 23, 2006 5:07 PM
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    Hanzin:

     

    Can you verify if your COA sticker (http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/en/coa.mspx) matches your Product Key being used on your system? You can view your product key with the Genuine Advantage diagnostics tool (at least the last 15 digits) located here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 .

     

    The Genuine Advantage Product Key Update Tool is only valid for users attempting to change their current non-genuine Product Key to a genuine COA sticker or genuine Product Key – all without a reinstall! http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409

     

    I don't recommend just "changing your Product ID" in the registry. I guarantee something like that wont work, and will probably have ill-effects.

     

    Good luck!

     

    -Phil Liu

     

    Tuesday, May 23, 2006 6:28 PM
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    Phil,

    Well, my gut reaction was partly right. I did not change the Product Key in the registry. I did use the Windows Product Key Update Tool. It worked! I could now update Windows again (the first thing that was installed: Windows Genuine Advantage validation-tool, what else?). I sure wish Microsoft in the Netherlands had told me about this nice little tool, this whole affair was bad for my blood pressure. Anyway, I'm a happy legal Windows XP user again. Thanks!

    Han.

    Wednesday, May 24, 2006 6:32 PM
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    Glad to hear!
    Wednesday, May 24, 2006 8:00 PM