Is there an easy way to change windows license key?

[swee'pea99]

Just bought a laptop off ebay with Windows installed, but the license is invalid and I'd like to change it for the key from my old HP laptop whose demise led to its purchase. Is there an easy way to do the substitution?

 

[rusky]

I'm guessing that it's not activated?

If that's the case, go to activate it & select activate over the phone. Click change product key & type in the new one.

Job done

 

[swee'pea99]

Thanks very much. Um, sorry to be a bit Homer but I don't know what activated means, or how to go to activate.

 

[rusky]

how do you know the current licence is invalid?

I think there's a place to enter the key if you click the pentagon thing if that makes sense!

 

[swee'pea99]

The listing sais 'will need to instal a proper version of windows', and I quizzed him about it because the pic clearly showed it running windows, and he said 'Hi I only have a copy of windows from another machine, so its running in unregistered mode at the moment.'
...so I thought no worries, I'll just transfer the license from the machine my daughter has so kindly trashed.

'the pentagon thing'.....um....

 

[rusky]

Do you get a message like this?

 

[MossCommuter]

Unfortunately the OEM license from the old laptop is only valid on that laptop. You cannot legally change the license key on an OEM distribution of Windows.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/ht/changexpkey.htm

 

[swee'pea99]

Do you get a message like this?

Ah - thanks for that. No, not yet. Doubtless it will come. The thing is I'd like to get windows updates and that kind of thing.


I'm a bit disheatrened to hear about the restriction on the windows...I'd always thought that when you bought it, you bought it, and could transfer it as long as you stopped using it on the old machine. Ah well, I'll just have to see how iy goes. Thanks all.

 

[MossCommuter]

http://pcsupport.abo...changexpkey.htm

 

[swee'pea99]

[QUOTE 1472369"]
Slightly ot, but can I move an Office license to another computer? Can I find the key anywhere on the machine it's currently installed on?
[/quote]

This might do the trick.

 

[MossCommuter]

[QUOTE 1472369"]
Slightly ot, but can I move an Office license to another computer? Can I find the key anywhere on the machine it's currently installed on?
[/quote]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823570

 

[ian turner]

To activate windows

Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories,
point to System Tools, and then click Activate Windows

Note this may fail due to the OEM key considerations and depending on whether it's an identical
version of windows.

 

[classic33]

What version of windows/office are we talking about?