How to Change Windows XP Version Between Retail, OEM and Volume License Channel

Each piece of Windows XP CD disc media or ISO image has been created for specific channel of distributions, namely retail, OEM or volume licensing. Each channel has specific installation CD and product key or CD key that required to register and activate the installed system. Activation with product serial keys from other channel version are simply not accepted, causing end-user to encounter problem when installation as a CD-key is not accepted even though its genuine, valid and correct. The main problem is that not many people may be aware there is difference between various Windows XP media and the Windows XP product key that theyre having, especially users who download Windows XP images (popularly in ISO, IMG or BIN format) from Internet through file sharing sites or BT (BitTorrent) torrents. These images may not be labeled properly by indicating its Windows XP retail, OEM or volume licensing version. Besides, the downloaded image is mostly for Windows XP VL edition, and is not suitable for OEM product key, which pasted on COA sticker on PC. Even for IT professionals who legitmatelly download Windows XP and obtain serial numbers from MSDN or TechNet subscriptions, the ISO images and product keys may get mixed up between OEM, retail or volume license (VL) version if not been labeled or managed properly. For users who have an incorrect edition of Windows XP CD or have installed an incorrect version of Windows XP, here are two tricks or hacks to change a live version of Windows XP installation, and change the version of Windows XP installation files. Why? Well, because end-user cannot change their product key easily, thats why the only possible way to properly activate is to change the channel version of Windows XP. How to Change the Distribution Channel Version of Existing Windows XP Installation 1. Boot up the computer using the CD of the Windows XP edition (retail, OEM or volume licensing) that user wants to upgrade or convert the existing installation to. Note: User may have to change the boot device priority or sequence in BIOS. 2. Windows XP setup wizard will launch and ask user to setup Windows XP, press Enter. Note: Do not press R or select the option To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R option.

3. Accept the License Agreement. 4. Then, select the Windows XP installation you want to repair (change the channel) from the list and press R to start the repair process. 5. Setup will copy some files. 6. Reboot the computer. 7. Windows XP installation is now properly changed for retail, OEM or volume license according to the version of CD been used. How to Change the Distribution Channel Version of A Windows XP CD Tip: A more easier way is probably to download a new Windows XP with SP3 ISO image. Note: This step can be used to check or verify the channel version of a Windows XP CD or image too. And it does not convert CD or image to royalty OEM Windows XP, which requires some OEM files to be existed. 1. Copy all content of Windows XP CD to hard disk drive, or extract Windows XP disc image to a folder. 2. Open the file \i386\setupp.ini in any text editor such as Notepad. 3. Inside the setupp.ini, there is a Pid parameter with [Pid] header. The Pid variable consists of 2 parts. The first 5 digits is Microsoft product code (MPC) which determines the version of Windows XP that will be installed, the last 3 digits is channel ID that determines which CD-keys or product keys that the installation wizard will accept. Some example of standard combination for Pid for various editions of Windows XP: Windows XP RTM Retail: 51882335 (Retail edition accepting Retail CD keys) Volume License: 51883270 (Volume License edition accepting Volume License keys or VLK) OEM: 82503OEM (OEM edition accepting OEM keys or COA keys) Windows XP SP2 Retail: 55274335 Volume License: 55274270 OEM: 55277OEM Windows XP SP3 Retail: 76487335 Volume License: 76487270 OEM: 76487OEM

4. The first 5 digits of Pid is normally stayed the same for same version of Windows XP (i.e. RTM, SP1, SP2 or SP3). Thus, only the last 3 digits of Pid needs to be modified according to example above. Generally, channel ID for retail is 335, OEM is OEM, and volume licensing is 270. 5. Use nLite or other disc imaging program to re-create or re-burn the modified Windows XP installation disc media or image. Note: Newer Windows XP discs may check whether the CDs volume label matches the type of CD too. In this case, the wrong volume label may still render the disc unworkable. Heres a brief list of known English version of Windows XP CD volume labels. XP Home and Professional Combo = WXPHFPP_EN XP Home Retail = WXHFPP_EN XP Home Retail with SP1 = XRMHFPP_EN XP Home Retail with SP1a = X1AHFPP_EN XP Home Retail with SP2 = VRMHFPP_EN XP Home Upgrade = WXHCCP_EN XP Home Upgrade with SP1 = XRMHCCP_EN XP Home Upgrade with SP1a = X1AHCCP_EN XP Home Upgrade with SP2 = VRMHCCP_EN XP Home OEM = WXHOEM_EN XP Home OEM with SP1 = XRMHOEM_EN XP Home OEM with SP1a = X1AHOEM_EN XP Home OEM with SP2 = VRMHOEM_EN XP Home Volume = WXHVOL_EN XP Home Volume with SP1 = XRMHVOL_EN XP Home Volume with SP1a = X1AHVOL_EN XP Home Volume with SP2 = VRMHVOL_EN XP Professional Retail = WXPFPP_EN XP Professional Retail with SP1 = XRMPFPP_EN XP Professional Retail with SP1a = X1APFPP_EN XP Professional Retail with SP2 = VRMPFPP_EN XP Professional Upgrade = WXPCCP_EN XP Professional Upgrade with SP1 = XRMPCCP_EN XP Professional Upgrade with SP1a = X1APCCP_EN XP Professional Upgrade with SP2 = VRMPCCP_EN XP Professional OEM = WXPOEM_EN XP Professional OEM with SP1 = XRMPOEM_EN XP Professional OEM with SP1a = X1APOEM_EN XP Professional OEM with SP2 = VRMPOEM_EN XP Professional Volume = WXPVOL_EN XP Professional Volume with SP1 = XRMPVOL_EN XP Professional Volume with SP1a = X1APVOL_EN

XP Professional Volume with SP2 = VRMPVOL_EN XP Professional Tablet PC with SP1 Disc1 = XRMPFPP_EN XP Professional Tablet PC with SP1a Disc1 = X1APFPP_EN XP Professional Tablet PC with SP2 Disc1 = VRMPFPP_EN XP Professional MSDN = WXPFPP_EN XP Professional MSDN with SP1 = XRMPFPP_EN XP Professional MSDN with SP1a = X1APFPP_EN XP Professional MSDN with SP2 = VRMPFPP_EN XP Professional Evaluation = WXPEVL_EN

Related Articles

Differences Between Retail, OEM, System Builder, Volume Licensing, Full or Upgrade License for Windows BIOS with Windows Vista OEM Support (ACPI_SLIC) Invalidate KMS Activation Differences Between OEM Channel SLP, NONSLP and COA License Product Keys Windows 7 OEM Prices for Ultimate, Professional and Home Premium Editions Microsoft Office 2010 Volume License Product Key (VLK) Requires KMS or MAK for Activation Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM Availability and Release Schedule Timeline Invalid Volume License Key, 0xC004F059 or 0xc004f035 Error When Activating Windows Vista on OEM Computer Office 2010 RC (RTM Escrow) VLK Build 14.0.4734.1000 (with Visio and Project) Free Download Can You Downgrade from Vista to XP? Windows Vista Volume Activation 2.0 Guide, Faq & Technical Guidance Free Download

Tip: Click here to check for oudated drives on your Windows PC

Have you lost your Windows CD Key and are desperately looking for it? No backups, nothing. What do you do now? Well till you have your Original installation you can easily find the Product key without breaking a sweat. Here are the simple steps you need to perform in order to get your Product Key from the installation CD. (Note: This may only work for certain OEM CDs, if it does not work for you, you can check out our earlier post on how you can find your Windows XP Product key.) 1. Insert the Installation CD into your CD / Drive Drive. 2. Explore the CD and navigate to the i386 folder.

3. Open the file UNATTEND.txt and scroll down to the last line. 4. You will find your Windows XP Product key there. We were able to find the CD key on a Windows XP Corporate Edition installation CD and would love to know if you were able to find it on your own installation CDs. Do let us know through your comments on how it went for you. Via: [Cool Tech Tips] Sabertooth June 1, 2006 at 07:09:46 Pacific

+2

http://www.softsland.com/WinKeyFinder.html OR http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2745.html OR http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q328874 OR http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_change_the_windows_xp_p.htm OR Manually edit the registry of the illegal machine. Use Regedit and find: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents In the right pane, right-click the ODBETimer binary value and select Modify. Change at least one character of this value to either a number from 0 to 9 or to a letter from A to F, and then click OK and close the Registry Editor. This renders the current product key invalid and deactivates Windows. Reactivate Windows using your new product key. Click Start | Run and enter the command: %systemroot %\system32\oobe\msoobe /a

Windows will launch the Product Activation Wizard. Select the option to telephone a Microsoft customer service representative to activate Windows. Select the Change Product Key option and enter your new product key. Click Update and close the window. If Windows returns you to the previous screen, just select the Remind Me Later option. When the wizard is finished, reboot the system. When Windows reboots, your next step will depend on which Windows XP version you are using. If you have XP Home or Professional, youll be prompted to reactivate your copy of Windows through the normal activation process. If you have XP Corporate, no activation is required and your machine should have a valid product ID.