[x]
Posted via EE Mobile

Search, ask, and monitor your questions on the go with EE Mobile. Visit Experts Exchange from your mobile device and never be out of touch again.
Question
[x]
Attachment Details
[x]
The Solution Rating System

With so many solutions, how can you tell which solutions are most likely to help you and which ones are not? To provide you with a tool to use, we rate our solutions based on various elements that most accurately determine if a solution is a quality solution. To explain what factors affect the solution rating, here are the elements we take into consideration when formulating our solution rating.

  • The Grade of the Solution
  • The Zone Rank of the Expert Providing the Solution
  • The Number of Author and Expert Comments
  • The Number of Experts Contributing
  • The Feedback of the Community

Your Input Matters
Because of the way the system is set up, the most important variable in this equation is you. As a member of Experts Exchange, you are able to cast your vote on the quality of the solutions in regard to how complete, accurate, helpful and easy to understand each solution is. When you provide your feedback, each rating is adjusted accordingly. So, if you see a solution that has a poor rating that you think is a good solution, let us know by rating it. As you do, the rating will be adjusted and will become more accurate for other members of our site.

If you have any suggestions that you would like to make for our rating system, please ask a question in the Suggestions Zone of Community Support.

Thank you!
5.0

How do I change a Product Key---without getting an error message?

Asked by Donnie616 in Windows XP Operating System, Operating Systems Miscellaneous

Tags: MS, Windows, XP Professional SP3

Hi Experts

I just did a repair installation on a friend's Dell Inspiron Laptop.  Surprisingly, all Drivers remained intact.
MS Updates is asking to install Windows genuine Advantage tool. -----I am afraid to do so.  Her is why.   Because I did that on another Dell, just last week and the OS turned out to be INVALID.  I was able to change the Product Key by using my VLK.  I changed it by editing the registry.  I used my VLK.  It was very easy to do.  I do not know where that other key came from.

NOW, I am in the exact same situation.  The key in the PC is different than the one on the COA on the Case. I fear it may be no good, as well.  SO----before I install WGA tool, I wanted to change the key by using my VLK, but the tools I used (2 of them) are saying that there is an error in changing the key.  WHY is that?  This has never happened to me before.  Why is this key change failing?  Very frightening.
I am no expert here.  Just learning and I do not understand things that have not happened before too well.

The other option is to edit the registry like I have done before, but if I am unsuccesful, Will Ilose the already activated key that is in there now?   I have no idea what the owner has done. They are not honest even tho they are my friends.  I really do not want to have to install Win XP all over again on a DELL. that I have just finished doing that to.

One note is that this machine has SP 3 on it, so  can I assume that this current key would have to be good, if it has that, plus it is activated?  I put SP3 on this myself back in August.  The current OS and prod key is listed as OEM.

QUESTION IS:.....  How can I  SAFELY change this OEM Prod key to my VLK.  Also, since I just used it on another DELL PC just a few days ago, could my perfectly legal key now be somehow blacklisted?  I cannot get the change to take effect.

I am really afraid to try a registry change if that might be true.   I just finished an intesive repair job of a severly corrupted system.  i do not want to have to do it again.  I would rather just untick the WPA updte and leave the customer to his own devices.  I do not want to lose my key because other people are using pirated windows.  

Thank you in advance

Donnie616
[+][-]12/12/08 12:27 AM, ID: 23155753Accepted Solution

View this solution now by starting your 30-day free trial. Setting up your free trial is quick, easy, and secure. We will return you to this solution, unlocked, when you're done.

About this solution

Zones: Windows XP Operating System, Operating Systems Miscellaneous
Tags: MS, Windows, XP Professional SP3
Sign Up Now!
Solution Provided By: MASQUERAID
Participating Experts: 6
Solution Grade: B
 
[+][-]12/11/08 09:46 AM, ID: 23150500Expert Comment

At Experts Exchange, members can ask their questions to thousands of technology professionals, also known as Experts. Experts compete and collaborate to answer those questions by leaving comments like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Expert Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 09:48 AM, ID: 23150515Expert Comment

At Experts Exchange, members can ask their questions to thousands of technology professionals, also known as Experts. Experts compete and collaborate to answer those questions by leaving comments like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Expert Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 10:23 AM, ID: 23150824Expert Comment

At Experts Exchange, members can ask their questions to thousands of technology professionals, also known as Experts. Experts compete and collaborate to answer those questions by leaving comments like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Expert Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 11:55 AM, ID: 23151624Author Comment

Often, when Experts are collaborating with members who have asked questions, they will request additional information about the problem. Askers respond with an author comment like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Author Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 12:17 PM, ID: 23151787Author Comment

Often, when Experts are collaborating with members who have asked questions, they will request additional information about the problem. Askers respond with an author comment like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Author Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 12:21 PM, ID: 23151816Assisted Solution

Assisted solutions are selected by the member who asked the question as a comment that contributed to their question's solution.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Assisted Solution or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 12:24 PM, ID: 23151834Expert Comment

At Experts Exchange, members can ask their questions to thousands of technology professionals, also known as Experts. Experts compete and collaborate to answer those questions by leaving comments like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Expert Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 01:51 PM, ID: 23152773Expert Comment

At Experts Exchange, members can ask their questions to thousands of technology professionals, also known as Experts. Experts compete and collaborate to answer those questions by leaving comments like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Expert Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 01:58 PM, ID: 23152842Expert Comment

At Experts Exchange, members can ask their questions to thousands of technology professionals, also known as Experts. Experts compete and collaborate to answer those questions by leaving comments like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Expert Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 04:07 PM, ID: 23153751Author Comment

Often, when Experts are collaborating with members who have asked questions, they will request additional information about the problem. Askers respond with an author comment like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Author Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 04:10 PM, ID: 23153759Expert Comment

At Experts Exchange, members can ask their questions to thousands of technology professionals, also known as Experts. Experts compete and collaborate to answer those questions by leaving comments like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Expert Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 05:43 PM, ID: 23154123Author Comment

Often, when Experts are collaborating with members who have asked questions, they will request additional information about the problem. Askers respond with an author comment like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Author Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 06:02 PM, ID: 23154202Expert Comment

At Experts Exchange, members can ask their questions to thousands of technology professionals, also known as Experts. Experts compete and collaborate to answer those questions by leaving comments like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Expert Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 06:08 PM, ID: 23154218Author Comment

Often, when Experts are collaborating with members who have asked questions, they will request additional information about the problem. Askers respond with an author comment like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Author Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 06:26 PM, ID: 23154296Expert Comment

At Experts Exchange, members can ask their questions to thousands of technology professionals, also known as Experts. Experts compete and collaborate to answer those questions by leaving comments like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Expert Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 07:42 PM, ID: 23154816Author Comment

Often, when Experts are collaborating with members who have asked questions, they will request additional information about the problem. Askers respond with an author comment like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Author Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 07:53 PM, ID: 23154857Expert Comment

At Experts Exchange, members can ask their questions to thousands of technology professionals, also known as Experts. Experts compete and collaborate to answer those questions by leaving comments like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Expert Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 08:06 PM, ID: 23154901Expert Comment

At Experts Exchange, members can ask their questions to thousands of technology professionals, also known as Experts. Experts compete and collaborate to answer those questions by leaving comments like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Expert Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/11/08 09:55 PM, ID: 23155233Author Comment

Often, when Experts are collaborating with members who have asked questions, they will request additional information about the problem. Askers respond with an author comment like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Author Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
[+][-]12/12/08 09:19 AM, ID: 23159059Author Comment

Often, when Experts are collaborating with members who have asked questions, they will request additional information about the problem. Askers respond with an author comment like this one.

Start your 30-day free trial to view this Author Comment or ask the Experts your question.

 
 
Loading Advertisement...
20091111-EE-VQP-92 - Hierarchy / EE_QW_2_20070628