How to Change the MS Win XP Product Key
- 1). Click "Start" and "Run," then type "regedit." Click "OK."
- 2). Click on the plus sign (+) to the left of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to expand its contents. Repeat this method with each subfolder until you have navigated to the following folder: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version. Then find and click on the WPAEvents folder to select it.
- 3). In the right window pane, right-click "ODBETimer" and click "Modify" from the menu that appears. Change one character of this value using a number (0-9) or a letter (A-F). Click "OK," then close the Registry Editor. This step creates an invalid product key.
- 4). Click "Start" and "Run," then type "%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a" and click "OK." This will run the Product Activation Wizard.
- 5). In the Activate Windows window, select the radio button labeled "Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows." Click "Next." Select "Change Product Key" and enter your new product key in the "New key" boxes. Click "Update" and close the window. If you are returned to the previous window, click "Remind me later." Restart your computer.
- 6). If after restarting your computer you are prompted to activate Windows again, select the radio button labeled "Yes, let's activate Windows over the Internet now," and click "Next." Click "No, I don't want to register now; let's just activate Windows," and then click "Next." Click "OK."
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