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I need to virtualize an IBM Laptop that one of the engineers at my company uses. The hardware is on it's last legs and setting up a new computer from scratch is not an option as it'd be too time consuming to reinstall and reconfigure all the software on it.

So, I converted it using vconverter and upon reboot it prompts me to re-activate windows.

Based on research, I understand I need to pay for a new license key. How do you do this? From research, there are apparently not only OEM locked but BIOS locked copies of windows...

I tried a valid XP key I got from our technet subscription just to see what would happen and it wouldn't work.

So, I'm assuming I have a little more work todo then just buy a new retail version of XP. Can anyone tell me what the process is?

EDIT: I performed a repair install as the accepted answer suggested. This process was very time consuming but it did work. .NET needed to be reinstalled and most of the software had to be reactivated which was a pain.

blak3r
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2 Answers2

3

You need to buy a full or volume licence version of the same windows product and do a repair install over the top of the oem one. This will then allow you to activate with the new key.

Keys are specific to the version - oem, std, VL, etc. This is why your technet key won't work with the oem install.

Boot from the new install cd and choose the 2nd repair option - http://tweaks.com/windows/36955/how-to-do-a-repair-install-of-xp/

JamesRyan
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phone up microsoft, they can sort you out pretty quickly generally, just explain that you converted physical to virtual and more than happy to pay for a new license, they can advise the process if any to resolve the issue, but if your other key didnt work i suspect there is a much bigger issue at play than locked licenses

anthonysomerset
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