http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: OT Help required en Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:38:06 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3710#post-39046 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:35:11 +0000 cb 39046@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>KB321636 describes how to change the product ID on an XP install which might be useful. Looks like the article has been withdrawn by Microsoft, but there seem to be a few copies kicking about.</p> <p><a href="http://www.mikeshardware.com/files_public/Articles/How%20to%20Change%20the%20Product%20ID%20in%20Windows%20XP.pdf">E.g. here.</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3710#post-39041 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:32:15 +0000 scotti 39041@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hi Smudge, If I remember correctly you will get an option to phone Microsoft to authorise a new installation. You can legally do this if you have replaced a motherboard or hard drive. There is probably info available on the Microsoft website. Takes a while on the phone and you need to make sure you write down the authorisation code correctly. It's been a while since I've needed to do this, so it may have changed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3710#post-39030 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 22:35:22 +0000 nearefare 39030@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>if it's an OEM machine you may find there's an OEM code on the under side on the machine. what make model is it </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3710#post-39026 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:33:44 +0000 Smudge 39026@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Computer was used from a friend with an unuseable hard disc, cd is an old one from a long dead machine and for some reason the code wasn't written onto the disc as normal. So no code and by the sounds of it no legal way to fix.</p> <p>I will have to find another solution then. Thanks anyway :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3710#post-39024 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:10:39 +0000 Cyclingmollie 39024@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If it's a legitimate copy of Windows XP then it will install and work for 30 days without the activation code. If you've lost the disk box then I think there's also a code on a sticker on the computer case. If you've got neither then I don't know any legal solution. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3710#post-39023 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:08:53 +0000 nearefare 39023@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If you have the original hard disk, pop it back in the pc and get write down the key.</p> <p>TBH I think you can just acquire a key and use it, Xp went out of mainstream support in 2010, i.e. you can't buy it, there's no support etc.<br /> <a href="http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?LN=en-gb&amp;C2=1173" rel="nofollow">http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?LN=en-gb&amp;C2=1173</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3710#post-39021 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:59:23 +0000 steveo 39021@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You could try wine, it's a kind of emulator for Linux it allows many windows based programs to run. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3710#post-39020 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:38:59 +0000 Smudge 39020@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>:-/ that's a shame, I was aiming to use the pc mainly to drive programmes like Ham Radio Deluxe, cwget etc which are unfortunately built to run on windows.<br /> I've never used non windows operating systems, (quiet at the back you apple eaters ;-)), so don't know how much of a pain it would be (especially run alongside windows OS on all my other machines). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3710#post-39019 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:33:50 +0000 chdot 39019@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Don't know anything about PCs...</p> <p>Presumably it's illegal to install on more than one computer (unless you have a multi-user licence)?</p> <p>If it's not on any other computer and you are legal owner does it matter how you get key/password for installation?? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3710#post-39018 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:21:52 +0000 kaputnik 39018@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thre are plenty of illegitimate ways to do it... I couldn't comment.</p> <p>The usual legitemate response on twitter would be "have you tried Ubuntu?" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3710#post-39013 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:48:26 +0000 Smudge 39013@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hi All,<br /> OT (unless I use the computer discussed to access the forum!) so mods please delete if unsuitable.</p> <p>I have an old computer whose hard drive I have replaced, I also have a (legit) Windows XP disc (SP2) which I hoped to use to put XP onto the computer, however the product key has been lost.<br /> Is there a way to recover the product key or do I need to buy/obtain a new/different copy of XP?</p> <p>Thanks,<br /> Smudge </p>