John, you can change the registered owner name on the computer. This site gives you the steps to do it. It involves editing the Registry so make sure you back up first: http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-5630339.html# Whether you will be able to obtain updates I can not say. However, as the OS is still on the original computer you should have no problem. You could always check with Microsoft just to be sure. Make sure the required Microsoft Product Key Number sticker is attached to the case. If it isn't the original owner should be able to supply it. If he can't - forget it as Microsoft won't want to know about it (or perhaps they will :-)!). Lance P. S. Check out Legacy Family Tree today! This full featured genealogy program can be downloaded FREE at http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Index.asp?mid=52583ii -----Original Message----- From: John Warnock [mailto:twojays@tik.com.au] Sent: Sunday, 5 June 2005 6:14 PM To: SENIOR-NEWBIE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [SR-NEWBIE] Windows XP I am considering buying a good 2nd hand computer. Windows XP is registered to the other owner, How do I transfer to myself or do I leave it as it is ?????? John from West Aus ==== SENIOR-NEWBIE Mailing List ==== The focus of this list is on helping Seniors to learn to use computers and the Internet. Tolerance and patience are the watchwords. For help in genealogical research methods and procedures, join ROCKINGCHAIR-ROOTS. Click and send: mailto:ROCKINGCHAIR-ROOTS-L-request@rootsweb.com?subject=subscribe ============================== View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find marriage announcements and more. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.6.2 - Release Date: 2005-06-04

To get the product key you can download this program and it will give you all keys and other information regarding the machine. http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html Lance wrote on 6/5/2005, 6:13 AM: > John, you can change the registered owner name on the computer. This site > gives you the steps to do it. It involves editing the Registry so make > sure > you back up first: > http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-5630339.html# > > Whether you will be able to obtain updates I can not say. However, as > the OS > is still on the original computer you should have no problem. You could > always check with Microsoft just to be sure. Make sure the required > Microsoft Product Key Number sticker is attached to the case. If it isn't > the original owner should be able to supply it. If he can't - forget > it as > Microsoft won't want to know about it (or perhaps they will :-)!). > > Lance > > > P. S. Check out Legacy Family Tree today! This full featured genealogy > program can be downloaded FREE at > http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Index.asp?mid=52583ii > -----Original Message----- > From: John Warnock [mailto:twojays@tik.com.au] > Sent: Sunday, 5 June 2005 6:14 PM > To: SENIOR-NEWBIE-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [SR-NEWBIE] Windows XP > > I am considering buying a good 2nd hand computer. Windows XP is > registered > to the other owner, How do I transfer to myself or do I leave it as it is > ?????? > John from West Aus > > > > ==== SENIOR-NEWBIE Mailing List ==== > The focus of this list is on helping Seniors to learn to use computers > and > the Internet. Tolerance and patience are the watchwords. For help in > genealogical research methods and procedures, join ROCKINGCHAIR-ROOTS. > Click and send: > mailto:ROCKINGCHAIR-ROOTS-L-request@rootsweb.com?subject=subscribe > > ============================== > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.6.2 - Release Date: 2005-06-04 > > > > ==== SENIOR-NEWBIE Mailing List ==== > Keep informed of the latest news and new databases, webpages and > mailing lists at RootsWeb. Subscribe to the weekly RootsWeb Review. > To subscribe, start here: http://newsletters.rootsweb.com/ > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx >

Actually, Joan, the query was about "changing the registered owner" not about the product key. As you said Belarc will reveal the product key. It will also reveal the registered owner. It was the latter which John wanted to change. My warning about the product key was just in case the equipment John was thinking of purchasing had a pirated version of XP. If the original owner does not have the product key STICKER, normally on the setup CD case or pre-coded into the manufacturer's (Dell, HP, etc) setup CD, there is a good chance that the copy of XP is not legitimate as far as Microsoft is concerned. Every legitimate purchased copy of XP comes with a product key sticker and it can be applied either by the owner or the supplier to the computer case. Regardless of whether there is a sticker available, there will be a product key which will show up in Belarc's scan. Whether it is a "generated (pirated) key" or a genuine Microsoft key Belarc doesn't define that. This note (of warning) from Microsoft (URL below) is worth digesting: [QUOTE] Windows Update installs an ActiveX control on your computer. Each time you visit the Windows Update site, the ActiveX control gets your system's product key and sends it back to Windows Update servers in an encrypted format. Your product key is then checked against the current list of known pirated product keys. [END QUOTE] The last sentence is good enough reason to be extra cautious isn't it? A few sites which may help: http://tinyurl.com/dz44h http://tinyurl.com/bdx3t http://tinyurl.com/73m5j Lance P. S. Check out Legacy Family Tree today! This full featured genealogy program can be downloaded FREE at http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Index.asp?mid=52583ii -----Original Message----- From: Joan L. Asche [mailto:jasche45133@aol.com] Sent: Sunday, 5 June 2005 10:08 PM To: SENIOR-NEWBIE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [SR-NEWBIE] Windows XP To get the product key you can download this program and it will give you all keys and other information regarding the machine. http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html Lance wrote on 6/5/2005, 6:13 AM: > John, you can change the registered owner name on the computer. This site > gives you the steps to do it. It involves editing the Registry so make > sure > you back up first: > http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-5630339.html# > > Whether you will be able to obtain updates I can not say. However, as > the OS > is still on the original computer you should have no problem. You could > always check with Microsoft just to be sure. Make sure the required > Microsoft Product Key Number sticker is attached to the case. If it isn't > the original owner should be able to supply it. If he can't - forget > it as > Microsoft won't want to know about it (or perhaps they will :-)!). > > Lance > > > P. S. Check out Legacy Family Tree today! This full featured genealogy > program can be downloaded FREE at > http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Index.asp?mid=52583ii > -----Original Message----- > From: John Warnock [mailto:twojays@tik.com.au] > Sent: Sunday, 5 June 2005 6:14 PM > To: SENIOR-NEWBIE-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [SR-NEWBIE] Windows XP > > I am considering buying a good 2nd hand computer. Windows XP is > registered > to the other owner, How do I transfer to myself or do I leave it as it is > ?????? > John from West Aus