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How to Change a Windows XP Product Key

You've installed your OS or entered your product key, but now you want to change it. How do you do it? You can use the Windows Activation Wizard graphical user interface (GUI) or a Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) script. The...

Author: Lesley Montoya2 minutes read
Table of Contents
Method 1 of 2:

Regedit

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    Click start in the bottom left corner, then click run.
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    Type 'Regedit' in the white text field, and click OK. This should open the Registry Editor.
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    Navigate to the following registry key.
    1. Hkey_local_machineSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsNTCurrent VersionWPAEvents
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    Right click 'OOBETimer', in that registry key that you just navigated to and then click 'Modify'.
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    Change one or more digits to anything random.
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    Click start and then click run.
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    Paste '%systemroot%system32oobemsoobe.exe /a', in the white text field,.
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    Select 'Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows', then click next.
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    Click "Change Product key"
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    Type the new product key into the small white text fields and then click update.
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    Check that you get a message similar to 'You have successfully activated your copy of Windows.', if you do, restart your computer, and you're done!
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    Make sure you are connected to the internet in this process!
Method 2 of 2:

Windows Product Key Updater

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    Click here to download the Windows Key Updater Tool.
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    Run the .exe file
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    Click Next. This tool will scan your system for any inconsistency or errors. Wait for the scan to finish.
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    Type in the new product key. You might be required to activate your system again.
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    Restart your computer. This will allow the changes to take place. You might be required to activate your system again.

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