Change Windows XP Product Key
I got a call from a former colleague asking if there was a convenient method to change the 25 digit product key in Windows. With a little registry tweaking, it is a very simple matter to do so:
- Open regedit and navigate to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents
- Open the REG_BINARY value of OOBETimer and change the value. For instance simply delete the last couplet of digits and add 11 or FF to it. Hit OK and close the registry editor.
- Now go to Start > Run... and paste in the following (substituting your Windows folder like C:\Windows for %SYSTEM ROOT%):
%SYSTEM ROOT%\system32\oobe\msoobe /a
- At the following dialog click the bottom button to Change Product Key.
- Enter in the new product key for the system and click Update. After the system verifies the key's integrity, you will be returned to the telephone option screen. Click the Remind Me Later button and restart.
- To verify that Windows has been returned to activated state, re-run the command from step 3. You should be given the notification that Windows is already activated.
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