Illegit XPPro over legit Home - Win Product Key Update Tool any he

Okay, this is an awkward one.

Received a PC that had died - turns out the power-supply had gone bad.

Once I'd sorted that out, I saw that Windows XP was reporting that the copy
of Windows was invalid.

Seemed very strange because I could see a valid XP Product Key stick on the
back of the machine.

Then I realised what must have happened - someone had installed an
illegitimate copy of XP Pro over the top of the original legitimate version
of XP, which was XP Home!

I want to get this one sorted out for the client but kind of doubt that the
Windows Product Key Update Tool will work if all I do is feed it the original
Product Key for XP Home.

Anyone able to tell me if I'm right or wrong about this?

If I am right (as I strongly suspect), is the client going to have to buy a
valid copy of XP Pro so I can use the Windows Product Key Update Tool to sort
things out?

Naturally, what I'm trying to avoid is a complete reinstall with all the
time and potential for lost programs and data that that would involve.


Thanks in anticipation

Bob Crabtree

"Bob Crabtree" wrote
> Okay, this is an awkward one.
>
> Received a PC that had died - turns out the power-supply had gone bad.
>
> Once I'd sorted that out, I saw that Windows XP was reporting that the
> copy
> of Windows was invalid.
>
> Seemed very strange because I could see a valid XP Product Key stick on
> the
> back of the machine.
>
> Then I realised what must have happened - someone had installed an
> illegitimate copy of XP Pro over the top of the original legitimate
> version
> of XP, which was XP Home!
>
> I want to get this one sorted out for the client but kind of doubt that
> the
> Windows Product Key Update Tool will work if all I do is feed it the
> original
> Product Key for XP Home.
>
> Anyone able to tell me if I'm right or wrong about this?
>
> If I am right (as I strongly suspect), is the client going to have to buy
> a
> valid copy of XP Pro so I can use the Windows Product Key Update Tool to
> sort
> things out?
>
> Naturally, what I'm trying to avoid is a complete reinstall with all the
> time and potential for lost programs and data that that would involve.


No that won't work. An XP Home product key won't work on an XP Pro system.
--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

Rock,

Thanks for the speedy response. Exactly as I though, then, the client is
going to have to buy a valid version of XP Pro.

Cheers

Bob

"Rock" wrote:

> "Bob Crabtree" wrote
> > Okay, this is an awkward one.
> >
> > Received a PC that had died - turns out the power-supply had gone bad.
> >
> > Once I'd sorted that out, I saw that Windows XP was reporting that the
> > copy
> > of Windows was invalid.
> >
> > Seemed very strange because I could see a valid XP Product Key stick on
> > the
> > back of the machine.
> >
> > Then I realised what must have happened - someone had installed an
> > illegitimate copy of XP Pro over the top of the original legitimate
> > version
> > of XP, which was XP Home!
> >
> > I want to get this one sorted out for the client but kind of doubt that
> > the
> > Windows Product Key Update Tool will work if all I do is feed it the
> > original
> > Product Key for XP Home.
> >
> > Anyone able to tell me if I'm right or wrong about this?
> >
> > If I am right (as I strongly suspect), is the client going to have to buy
> > a
> > valid copy of XP Pro so I can use the Windows Product Key Update Tool to
> > sort
> > things out?
> >
> > Naturally, what I'm trying to avoid is a complete reinstall with all the
> > time and potential for lost programs and data that that would involve.
>
>
> No that won't work. An XP Home product key won't work on an XP Pro system.
> --
> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
>
>

"Bob Crabtree" wrote
> Rock,
>
> Thanks for the speedy response. Exactly as I though, then, the client is
> going to have to buy a valid version of XP Pro.
>
> Cheers
>
> Bob
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
>> "Bob Crabtree" wrote
>> > Okay, this is an awkward one.
>> >
>> > Received a PC that had died - turns out the power-supply had gone bad.
>> >
>> > Once I'd sorted that out, I saw that Windows XP was reporting that the
>> > copy
>> > of Windows was invalid.
>> >
>> > Seemed very strange because I could see a valid XP Product Key stick on
>> > the
>> > back of the machine.
>> >
>> > Then I realised what must have happened - someone had installed an
>> > illegitimate copy of XP Pro over the top of the original legitimate
>> > version
>> > of XP, which was XP Home!
>> >
>> > I want to get this one sorted out for the client but kind of doubt that
>> > the
>> > Windows Product Key Update Tool will work if all I do is feed it the
>> > original
>> > Product Key for XP Home.
>> >
>> > Anyone able to tell me if I'm right or wrong about this?
>> >
>> > If I am right (as I strongly suspect), is the client going to have to
>> > buy
>> > a
>> > valid copy of XP Pro so I can use the Windows Product Key Update Tool
>> > to
>> > sort
>> > things out?
>> >
>> > Naturally, what I'm trying to avoid is a complete reinstall with all
>> > the
>> > time and potential for lost programs and data that that would involve.
>>
>>
>> No that won't work. An XP Home product key won't work on an XP Pro
>> system.


Yes that's the resolution, or do a clean install with XP Home.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

Bob Crabtree wrote:

> Rock,
>
> Thanks for the speedy response. Exactly as I though, then, the client is
> going to have to buy a valid version of XP Pro.
>
> Cheers
>
> Bob
>

Of course, one could always give the client the option of having the
original Windows XP Home re-installed and re-use the original Windows
XP Home product key. Even if this computer had an OEM version of XP
installed, changing the PSU does not constitute a "new" computer.