Invalid copy of XP

A neighbor of mine, wanted me to look at his PC with XP pro, I suggested to
him that he update to SP2, when it tries to intall the service pack it states
that the cd key that was used is invalid to contact the Admin. He purchased
this unit second hand and it has all of his PGM's installed, I asked him if
he had his CD's and he stated not all.
Can he pruchase a new copy and re-install over what he has now? I have tried
to do this in the past with XP and it warns me that it would destroy the
registry and that the PGM's installed would not work until they are
re-installed.
I was thinking of purchasing the same type of install (OEM/Upgrade/Full
retail) and try to change the cd-key with the new one, but I do not know what
type of install was done to this unit, I do know for a fact that it is not an
OEM copy.

TIA

Steve;
Buying windows XP and changing the key will only work if the installed and
purchased are the same type since the different types are not
interchangeable.
Usually with this invalid message, the installed version is Volume License.
In that case a Repair Installation with the new CD and new Product Key is
necessary:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/repaxp.htm
Programs, data and settings should remain intact, but it is a good idea to
back up important data just in case.
Programs can not normally be backed up so if there is a problem with them,
programs may need to be reinstalled.

Also see:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"SteveL" <> wrote in message
news:C004420E-21BE-4E1B-9029-...
>A neighbor of mine, wanted me to look at his PC with XP pro, I suggested to
> him that he update to SP2, when it tries to intall the service pack it
> states
> that the cd key that was used is invalid to contact the Admin. He
> purchased
> this unit second hand and it has all of his PGM's installed, I asked him
> if
> he had his CD's and he stated not all.
> Can he pruchase a new copy and re-install over what he has now? I have
> tried
> to do this in the past with XP and it warns me that it would destroy the
> registry and that the PGM's installed would not work until they are
> re-installed.
> I was thinking of purchasing the same type of install (OEM/Upgrade/Full
> retail) and try to change the cd-key with the new one, but I do not know
> what
> type of install was done to this unit, I do know for a fact that it is not
> an
> OEM copy.
>
> TIA

Hello Mr. Jones,

I checked the unit and sure enough it was a XXXXXX-640- number, I checked
his other unit and it is the same except SP2 updated it with no issues.
I explained the legality to him and he wants to be compliant.
Please advise. Thank you


"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:

> Steve;
> Buying windows XP and changing the key will only work if the installed and
> purchased are the same type since the different types are not
> interchangeable.
> Usually with this invalid message, the installed version is Volume License.
> In that case a Repair Installation with the new CD and new Product Key is
> necessary:
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/repaxp.htm
> Programs, data and settings should remain intact, but it is a good idea to
> back up important data just in case.
> Programs can not normally be backed up so if there is a problem with them,
> programs may need to be reinstalled.
>
> Also see:
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm
>
> --
> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
> http://www.dts-l.org
>
>
> "SteveL" <> wrote in message
> news:C004420E-21BE-4E1B-9029-...
> >A neighbor of mine, wanted me to look at his PC with XP pro, I suggested to
> > him that he update to SP2, when it tries to intall the service pack it
> > states
> > that the cd key that was used is invalid to contact the Admin. He
> > purchased
> > this unit second hand and it has all of his PGM's installed, I asked him
> > if
> > he had his CD's and he stated not all.
> > Can he pruchase a new copy and re-install over what he has now? I have
> > tried
> > to do this in the past with XP and it warns me that it would destroy the
> > registry and that the PGM's installed would not work until they are
> > re-installed.
> > I was thinking of purchasing the same type of install (OEM/Upgrade/Full
> > retail) and try to change the cd-key with the new one, but I do not know
> > what
> > type of install was done to this unit, I do know for a fact that it is not
> > an
> > OEM copy.
> >
> > TIA
>
>
>

I re-read the serial numbers and I will have to check his 2nd unit again.

Thanks again

"SteveL" wrote:

> Hello Mr. Jones,
>
> I checked the unit and sure enough it was a XXXXXX-640- number, I checked
> his other unit and it is the same except SP2 updated it with no issues.
> I explained the legality to him and he wants to be compliant.
> Please advise. Thank you
>
>
> "Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:
>
> > Steve;
> > Buying windows XP and changing the key will only work if the installed and
> > purchased are the same type since the different types are not
> > interchangeable.
> > Usually with this invalid message, the installed version is Volume License.
> > In that case a Repair Installation with the new CD and new Product Key is
> > necessary:
> > http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/repaxp.htm
> > Programs, data and settings should remain intact, but it is a good idea to
> > back up important data just in case.
> > Programs can not normally be backed up so if there is a problem with them,
> > programs may need to be reinstalled.
> >
> > Also see:
> > http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm
> >
> > --
> > Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> > http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
> > http://www.dts-l.org
> >
> >
> > "SteveL" <> wrote in message
> > news:C004420E-21BE-4E1B-9029-...
> > >A neighbor of mine, wanted me to look at his PC with XP pro, I suggested to
> > > him that he update to SP2, when it tries to intall the service pack it
> > > states
> > > that the cd key that was used is invalid to contact the Admin. He
> > > purchased
> > > this unit second hand and it has all of his PGM's installed, I asked him
> > > if
> > > he had his CD's and he stated not all.
> > > Can he pruchase a new copy and re-install over what he has now? I have
> > > tried
> > > to do this in the past with XP and it warns me that it would destroy the
> > > registry and that the PGM's installed would not work until they are
> > > re-installed.
> > > I was thinking of purchasing the same type of install (OEM/Upgrade/Full
> > > retail) and try to change the cd-key with the new one, but I do not know
> > > what
> > > type of install was done to this unit, I do know for a fact that it is not
> > > an
> > > OEM copy.
> > >
> > > TIA
> >
> >
> >

He needs to buy Windows XP Pro if he needs to preserve data..
Upgrade will do if he has a qualifying product such as Windows 98/ME etc.
Without a qualifying product, the full version is necessary.

A Repair Installation. as stated earlier, with the new CD and new Product
Key will resolve it.

If Windows XP Pro is not desired, he can acquire any operating system and
perform a Clean Installation using the procedures appropriate for that
operating system.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"SteveL" <> wrote in message
news:9795263F-080D-48C1-B59A-...
> Hello Mr. Jones,
>
> I checked the unit and sure enough it was a XXXXXX-640- number, I checked
> his other unit and it is the same except SP2 updated it with no issues.
> I explained the legality to him and he wants to be compliant.
> Please advise. Thank you
>
>
> "Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Steve;
>> Buying windows XP and changing the key will only work if the installed
>> and
>> purchased are the same type since the different types are not
>> interchangeable.
>> Usually with this invalid message, the installed version is Volume
>> License.
>> In that case a Repair Installation with the new CD and new Product Key is
>> necessary:
>> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/repaxp.htm
>> Programs, data and settings should remain intact, but it is a good idea
>> to
>> back up important data just in case.
>> Programs can not normally be backed up so if there is a problem with
>> them,
>> programs may need to be reinstalled.
>>
>> Also see:
>> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm
>>
>> --
>> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
>> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
>> http://www.dts-l.org
>>
>>
>> "SteveL" <> wrote in message
>> news:C004420E-21BE-4E1B-9029-...
>> >A neighbor of mine, wanted me to look at his PC with XP pro, I suggested
>> >to
>> > him that he update to SP2, when it tries to intall the service pack it
>> > states
>> > that the cd key that was used is invalid to contact the Admin. He
>> > purchased
>> > this unit second hand and it has all of his PGM's installed, I asked
>> > him
>> > if
>> > he had his CD's and he stated not all.
>> > Can he pruchase a new copy and re-install over what he has now? I have
>> > tried
>> > to do this in the past with XP and it warns me that it would destroy
>> > the
>> > registry and that the PGM's installed would not work until they are
>> > re-installed.
>> > I was thinking of purchasing the same type of install (OEM/Upgrade/Full
>> > retail) and try to change the cd-key with the new one, but I do not
>> > know
>> > what
>> > type of install was done to this unit, I do know for a fact that it is
>> > not
>> > an
>> > OEM copy.
>> >
>> > TIA
>>
>>
>>