XP serial change

[mlee97]

Does any one know how to Change the Serial number in XP?
I installed xp with a pirate copy to see if I\'d like it.
Then I went out and bought a license. Now how do I use the legal number without loosing everything .. a format is NOT an option.
Anyone with experience with this?

[homer]

first u hav to deactivate windows:

in regedit goto

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents

then in the right pannel double click on 'oobetimer' and change atleast one digit of the value that comes up. u can change it to anything. this deactivates windows.

then go to run in the start menu and type

%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a

an activation screen should come up... choose activate by phone

the next screen has an option for 'change product key' enter ur new key in there.

reboot and all should be done. http://images.thetechguide.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'\' />

hope this helps

[a94cobra]

I tried that, but it didn't work.

Didn't like my new key.  Was going from corp to retail.