WinXP Product Keys Don't Match (New WGA Concern)

[CobraPilot]

I purchased some PCs in an auction, consigned from a company that was closing a local office.

One of them came with WinXP Pro with an authentic WinXP Microsoft Product Key decal on the case (the others were Win98SE; one had a trashed HD with bad MBR, so it'll become a Linux test drive pc).

My concern: Keyfinder ID's a DIFFERENT Product Key than the one on the case, maybe a bulk license for the company.

The newest version of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) has popped up ("Updates are ready for your computer"), and I'm concerned about a lot of hassles that might result in running it, due to the two different Product Key numbers, as to whether or not WGA will okay the one Keyfinder lists. I've read some horror stories about WGA balking at perfectly valid keys, so I'd like to minimize the chance of that happening.

Anyone have any insights as to the safest way to proceed? If the current product key is rejected, how do I input the one on the case? (I've never done an XP install; only had it preinstalled on machines I have.)

[guns1inger]

The original was probably an OEM volume install key from an image, and is quite valid. The instances of WGA rejecting legit keys aren't that frequent, and haven't affected too many people. I have seen it happen a couple of times, and in each instance replacing the key with the same legitimate key and rebooting fixed the problem. You can change the key with one of these

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/rockxp.html
http://www.winkeyfinder.com/remository/winkeyfinder/win-keyfinder-1.73-rc2.php

[CobraPilot]

Thanks for the feedback and links, guns1inger!

Looks like I may have two keys for one computer, which could be handy.

[CobraPilot]

guns1inger, the rockxp utility wouldn't change the key, and the winkeyfinder utility failed repeatedly with an error popup in a foreign language.

Have you had any success with either of these post-SP3? Maybe SP3 "fixed" these two utilities?

[ntscuser]

Have you had any success with either of these post-SP3? Maybe SP3 "fixed" these two utilities?

My understanding is that SP3 makes it harder to bypass WGA, not easier.

Also the key on my previous PC was changed from that stickered on the side for some reason even though it was the original OEM installation. That made transferring Windows to a newer PC all the more difficult. In the end I had to use a WinXP hack even though it was a perfectly legitimate copy.

[freebird73717]

I just recently took a hard drive from a pc with xp preinstalled by HP and put it into a self built pc. Upon reboot it asked for activation. I tried to do it online and it failed. Said invalid key. Windows allowed me to change the key during the activation process. I entered the key from the sticker on the old case that I took the hard drive from and it worked just fine.

[ViRaL1]

I just recently took a hard drive from a pc with xp preinstalled by HP and put it into a self built pc. Upon reboot it asked for activation. I tried to do it online and it failed. Said invalid key. Windows allowed me to change the key during the activation process. I entered the key from the sticker on the old case that I took the hard drive from and it worked just fine.

That's TECHNICALLY not covered. OEM licenses are not meant to be transferred.

[freebird73717]

Why? It was paid for. Motherborad crashed on old pc so I put the hd with windows in a custom pc. Why should I have to buy a new license just because of hardware failure?

It worked just fine though. Changed the product key from the bulk one HP used to the actual xp license key that was stuck to the side of the case using the built in feature of windows activation. Then called microsoft and re-activated. Now working fine.

[ViRaL1]

I agree with you. I'm just stating that's how OEM licensing works.

[ntscuser]

It worked just fine though. Changed the product key from the bulk one HP used to the actual xp license key that was stuck to the side of the case using the built in feature of windows activation. Then called microsoft and re-activated. Now working fine.

I tried that and was told by the MS operator the key was no longer valid. He gave me another number to type in but that wasn't the key either. That was just an access code to obtain the correct key to give to him so he could change it. All the time I was balancing the HP desktop on my lap while squinting at the screen in bad light in order to write down the number it gave me to give to the operator and so on and so on. In the end I decided it was easier to just install a hack!

[freebird73717]

Okay. Microsoft's licensing makes little sense to me. I'm sure you are right. I'm just glad that it worked for me.

[ntscuser]

I explained to the MS operator that I was transferring a hard disk from an old PC to a new one and he had no objection to that whatever. The serial number I gave him contained the letters OEM.

[guns1inger]

FWIW, Keyfinder works quite happily on my XP SP3 machine.

[CobraPilot]

Keyfinder or WinKeyfinder (the link you provided)?

I wish I could make WinKeyfinder work, guns1inger . . .

When I launch it, I always get a popup that says "unexpected error." (Aren't they all?)

Win Explorer says the file size is 264 kb. Does that match yours?

(RockXP doesn't seem to work, either, but at least it goes through a lot of gyrations, as if it IS doing something.)

[INFRATOM]

Let the update run, there are 2 WGA updates one is notification, without those you can't get updates that means full updates, you cannot download and install certain things like media player etc security updates install without WGA. If your key wasn't genuine you have 2 options, apply the key that is on the box if the type of windows match or uninstall and delete WGA. I have heard in future Microsoft will disable windows XP through updates that does not have WGA so it would be a requirement for windows xp to run in the future. It could be already in one of the SP's and get activated on certain date!
One reason companies change keys because cheap computers come (came) with XP home edition and for business to join the domain they need Pro edition.

[aedipuss]

cobrapilot - the magic jellybean keyfinder works.
http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

[CobraPilot]

aedipuss: cobrapilot - the magic jellybean keyfinder works.
http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Thanks, but as far as I can see it only ID's the key, although previous versions purported to handle changing the key (they don't seem to work). Am I missing something on this utility's current version?

I have no problem determining the keys; I want to be able to change it on one install of WXPPro. The PC in question is one that I need to avoid any WGA activation problems. I'd love to be able to update the key BEFORE starting the WGA process . . . .

RockXP claims to do that, but after it ran, no change; and WinKeyfinder gives me an immediate error message and does nothing.

I'd like to feel confident that the process involved with the new WGA would permit a painless key number change (it won't like the one currently installed) to a good one I have.

Has anyone actually been through that who could provide some "reassuring" step-by-step experience?

[aedipuss]

this used to work, but i haven't tried it since sp1.



1. Run regedit and go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents, on the
right double click on "oobetimer" and change at least one digit of this
value to deactivate windows.

2. Choose run from start menu and type in this command:
%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a to get the activation screen and go
to
the second option which is activate by phone.

3. In the new screen choose the option to change product key, and type in
the new product key.

4. Close that window, reboot your system and enter the command in step 2 for
the second time to verify your activation , you should see "windows is
already activated".