Converting XP Pro Corporate to regular XP Professional

Hello all,

Just inhereted a rather ugly situation. Seems my company
was using an illegal corporate version of Windows XP Professional.

I have purchased all new licenses for the regular version
of XP Professional thinking I could just change the keys
and active them. I don't think that is possible, though I am
hoping I am wrong.

Any suggestions? I would rather not have to reinstall even though
it is only for a small number of systems.

Would it be possible to reinstall overtop the existing corporate
so all the programs wont have to be reloaded?

Thank you

Is what you are saying…is that the PC's were installed using an invalid volume license, and volume software, now you want to use the product key from a retail version to get things legal...I doubt that can be done, but I am just throwing that out there, but it may be a reinstall issue here, how many PC’s are we talking about?

You have made yourself compliant with the purchase. If the PC's are using windows update fine, and you have no issues with loading service pack one, or adding hardware causing you to reactivate them, I would say let it go for now. As time goes by you can rebuild them one by one.

The reality is, and this will hold up in an audit, you have reached compliance with the purchase. Remember to save the receipts! Cause that matters a whole lot more than having valid product keys...

I am pretty sure they were all installed with a posted corporate
key and then cracked to valid keys, because they are all different.
And they are all fully patched. So they are working fine.

Anyway, I was thinking just having the new valid licenses would
be sufficient for an audit, but want to make sure since I am
now the responsible person. There are 12 installations.

Thank you for your response.

the microsoft way

If that doesn't work


1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. In the left pane, locate and then click the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Cu rrent Version\WPAEvents

4. In the right pane, right-click OOBETimer, and then click Modify.
5. Change at least one digit of this value to deactivate Windows.
6. Click Start, and then click Run.
7. In the Open box, type the following command, and then click OK: %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a

8. Click Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows, and then click Next.
9. Click Change Product key.
10. Type the new product key in the New key boxes, and then click Update. If you are returned to the previous window, click Remind me later, and then restart the computer.
11. Repeat steps 6 and 7 to verify that Windows is activated. You receive the following message:

Windows is already activated. Click OK to exit.

12. Click OK.
13. Install SP1 for Windows XP.

If you cannot restart Windows after you install SP1, press F8 when you restart the computer, select Last Known Good Configuration, and then repeat this procedure

Thank you for the info NooNoo. I do know how to change the key though. My main question probably wasn't too clear. I am concerned
that since these OS's were installed off a Corporate CD that the
new regular XP Pro licenses I purchased would not work with
this type of installation. And I am hesitant to deactive the existing license until I find out if they will work or not.

And if they will not work with a Corporate install, then can I install
over the top with the regular Windows XP Cd's without disturbing
the programs that are already installed.

Or as Ya_Know stated, just having the valid licenses will be enough.

SP1 is already installed on all the OS's.

Thanks!

Try it and see is my advice, not knowing exactly what was installed how and then how it was manipulated is not helping matters either.

NooNoo's advice will not work. You cannot change the license from
a Corporate Pro Install to a Regular Windows XP Pro license.

But... you can do a recovery overtop of the Corporate Pro Install with
a regular Windows XP Pro CD. The only problem is time. It will act
like it is doing a full install. But you keep all your data and programs.

1) Boot into the regular Windows XP CD like you are going to do
a regular install.
2) Select Install Windows XP. It will find an installation of windows
already exists.
3) Select the existing installation and hit R to install overtop. It will
copy all the files then ask to reboot. Leave the cd in and reboot.
It will then work almost like a full install and ask for the new key.

The only problem I had was the motherboard had onboard vga and network and the reinstall didn't pick up on it. So when it finally
got around to letting me log in, I couldn't log in until the OS was
activated through either the net or telephone. I ended up throwing
in a regular 3com network card to active the OS.

I hope this helps someone.