XP Pro activation

[ChrisDavis]

Help...

I have two legitimate copies of Windows XP Pro. One is installed and working fine on my own PC. I installed the second one on a friends PC, but did not have the correct certificate of authenticity with me at the time, so for the install I used the certificate that is for my own PC. A couple of days after the install I got the correct certificate and attempted to use it to activate XP. Microsoft will not accept the new certificate number.

My questions:

Does XP have to be installed with the same registration number as it will be activated with?

If so, do I have to do a new install with the correct key to fix this situation?

If I install over top of the existing installation, so as to not loose all the other software that has been installed since, will Windows even ask for a key again during the installation or do I have to wipe out everything?

I think you mean you used the Product Key from another PC to activate it.

Following the directions here, should get you where you want to be.

If you did a reinstall over your old, all of YOUR data would be fine, but you would have to reinstall any software you had already. The easiest route is to just call M$.

[sechs]

There are key changing "utilities" available. These are of dubious origin.

The straight and narrow path, as EvilRick has described, would likely be safer.

[demon_wolf]

Normally, in your case, both installs will work fine for 30 days, from the date of install.

At that time, the Second install you did will bring up a message that the reg key needs to be re-installed.

At that point, just enter the correct cd key