- 1). Open the registry editor by clicking "Start" and "Run" and then typing "regedit" (without the quotation marks).
- 2). Navigate to the following location in the window that opens:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents - 3). Locate the "OOBETimer" entry in the right window. This entry should appear once you've selected the "WPAEvents" folder in the left window.
- 4). Right-click on "OOBETimer" and choose "Modify."
- 5). Change the "Value data" entry. It doesn't matter what you set it to, as long as it has been changed. This will deactivate your copy of Windows, and it is during the reactivation process that you can change your key.
- 6). Click "Start" and "Run" again, and give the following command:
%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
The Windows Activation window will appear. - 7). Select the option to activate using a telephone customer service representative. You will not have to actually speak to a customer service representative, but selecting this option allows you to change your key.
- 8). Click the "Change Product Key" button near the bottom of the window that now appears, and fill out the field with your new key. Your new key will be printed on the packaging for your new copy of Windows XP, or it will have been emailed to you if you purchased the software digitally.
- 9). You can now activate via phone, or click the "Back" button and activate Windows XP online automatically.
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