Change XP CD License Type

[ChrisCanada]

With Windows XP, there are three main types of licenses (Retail, Volume License, and OEM) for some Windows XP versions. With each type of CD, you can only use a product key that matches the CD. For example, if you own an OEM computer from a large company such as Dell, you cannot use a legally purchased XP CD from a store like best buy to perform a re installation of XP onto the OEM computer. Microsoft licensing is archaic, however luckily the difference between the license types is in an editable file. However with XP, you need to have the same type of CD to use this Process (So if you want to create an XP Pro OEM copy, you need any XP Pro OEM disc). To do this process, you need to follow these few steps.

1. Finding your ?Channel ID?

This is the number that determines what type of license the XP Disc is set to accept. We can determine this by inserting the disc (or mounting the ISO) on a computer, and then opening the folder ?I386? and look at the file called ?setup.ini? which should look similar to this

[Pid]

ExtraData=786F687170637175716954806365EF

Pid=76487000

The ?Pid? is the information we are interested in, and you should write it down for the next step. ?76487? are the first 5 characters which describe the locale, which in this case is ?English? (Media Center, XP Pro Royalty OEM, XP Pro SP2 retail and XP Pro Volume license). The main thing we are interested in is the last 3 characters which are ?000? describes the channel ID which in this case is ?Other / Retail / Upgrade / Evaluation?. We need to change these last 3 characters, in this case we are going to create an OEM CD and change the last 3 characters to ?OEM?. Here?s a short list of the Channel ID?s you can switch windows to. If you want to read more about the Channel ID?s, I suggest you check out the following site http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Product_IDs

? 000 : Other (includes some retail, upgrade and evaluation versions)

? 006 : MS or Partner promotions

? 009 : Not for resale ? bundle

? 011 : Upgrade (XP Home?)

? OEM : OEM (This does not specify royalty or normal OEM)

? 270 : Volume License

? 335 : Retail

? 640 through 652 : Volume License

2. Changing your Channel ID

The first step to changing your Channel ID is to have an ISO image of the XP CD on your hard drive, and you must do this step before continuing. Most CD/DVD burning software offers an option to burn a copy of a CD to an image file. In order to proceed you also need have a HEX editor, I recommend XVI32 from this page http://www.chmaas.handshake.de/delphi/free...xvi32/xvi32.htm

After installing your HEX Editor, open up the ISO file. Hit CTRL+F in XVI32 and type the name of the PID from the first step and type OK. Your screen should now look like the below screen. (attached)

Modify the ?Pid=? value to have the last 3 characters to have the correct Channel ID, so if we wanted to create an OEM CD we would need to change ?000? to ?OEM?. It shouldn?t be necessary to change the first 5 characters

3. Saving and burning

You can save the file by pressing CTRL+S. It?s now safe to burn this image file with your favorite CD burning software. You should now be able to use a different license type and continue installing XP like you would with any other disc.

[Fish]

For example, if you own an OEM computer from a large company such as Dell, you cannot use a legally purchased XP CD from a store like best buy to perform a re installation of XP onto the OEM computer....

I'm sorry, what? You say you can't just go and buy an XP CD and install it? Please explain...

[Joel]

Also, this doesn't work with OLP (VLK) discs.

And, as Fish said, what you wrote about installing a retail CD on a Dell is nonsense. Of course you can.

[Skyfrog]

I'm thinking he probably meant you can't use the Dell product key with your retail copy.

[xdot.tk]

I think he meant using the OEM key with the retail CD.

[ChrisCanada]

I'm sorry, what? You say you can't just go and buy an XP CD and install it? Please explain...

This is more for people doing work that need to have multiple types of CD's on hand. For example, a PC Technician that fixes peoples computers. You would follow the licensing requirements, each PC would have a license. Let's say you have a customer with an older PC that has a Windows XP Pro w/ SP1 Retail copy, and all you have is an OEM disc. You can use this method to use your OEM Disc (Likely with sp3 slip streamed and all the good stuff) to install XP with a retail product key.

Also, this doesn't work with OLP (VLK) discs.

And, as Fish said, what you wrote about installing a retail CD on a Dell is nonsense. Of course you can.

I converted a VLK copy (have a volume licensing agreement with Microsoft) to an OEM copy, but haven't tried converting an OEM copy to VLK copy. Used this method to reinstall XP on computer that are surplus and being sold with using the OEM key when I couldn't find an OEM disc (besides stupid IBM / HP recovery discs).

[koolbud]

I'm getting an error

Error Writting Error 32 File sharing violation when trying to save with XVI32. Does anyone know if there's something I must disable?

disregard, I had the ISO mounted. Had to un-mount it before saving.

Thanks

[c.grz]

I made a small batch file that will replace key OEM files in the I386 folder of the CD that will allow the use of the corresponding OEM key so I carry a single copy of XP on a flash drive and just select the needed OEM and I'm all set. This flash drive goes everywhere with me.