How to Change Windows XP Product Key Without Reinstalling

Windows XP requires that every machine that runs on this operating system should have a Product Key associated with it. The Product Key is unique and assigned only to that operating system. This helps Microsoft troubleshoot and provide support to you when you face a problem. But with new hardware advancements, we change our computers thus making the old license useless. We discuss how to overcome this hurdle in this article.

Windows XP Product Key

Some of you might face the challenge of migrating your operating system to a different computer and do not know how to now activate the license on the new machine. Windows XP allows you to enter a Product Key during the installation process but, you might want to enter a product key after the operating system has been installed.

Change Windows XP Product Key

You can follow these step by step instructions to change or enter a new Windows XP Product Key without having to reinstall your operating system. This is useful for system administrators who have to constantly shuffle computers from one place to another or change the licenses on them.

Click on Start Menu
Select Run
Type regedit and click OK

Registry Editor How to Change Windows XP Product Key Without Reinstalling

Locate HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>Software>Microsoft>WindowsNT>Current Version>WPAEvents from the list of registry entries available
Locate OOBETimer from the Window that opens on the right
Right click on OOBETimer and choose Modify from the menu that appears
Change one value in the Value Data text box that appears and click OK. This process will deactivate your Windows XP
Close your Registry Editor
Click on Start Menu
Select Run
Type %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
Click OK
Choose Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows
Click Next
Click Change Product Key

Activate Windows How to Change Windows XP Product Key Without Reinstalling

Enter your new Product key
Restart your computer.

Windows Activated How to Change Windows XP Product Key Without Reinstalling
You have to remember that you have to be the administrator or owner of the computer and the Windows XP license to change it. A user without administrator privileges won’t be able to change the Product Key.