Re: XP registration and activation

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From: Bruce Chambers (bruce_a_chambers_at_h0tmail.com)
Date: 10/20/04 

Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 20:18:00 -0600

Erinelsa wrote:
> Ok I bought a referbished/returned Hp computer the other day with
> win
> XP oem software already installed on it. After setting up the system
> I looked at system information and noticed that my system and
> windows
> is already registered to the previous user. Is there a way for me to
> change that information? Please note my system did not come with
> windows disks (HP does not provide disks for refurbished systems) I
> can do a restore from the provided partition that comes with HP
> systems (F10 restore) but Im not sure if that will help.

    With second-hand computers, particularly if acquired from
strangers, your wisest course of action would probably be to format
the hard drives and start fresh. You don't want to get in trouble
because the original owner may have filled the hard drive with kiddie
porn, or have problems because the original owner downloaded/installed
viruses or other malware. Some unscrupulous people could even sell a
used computer preconfigured with the necessary key-loggers and spyware
to collect your personal information for future use.

    However, to fix the "Registered to" information for WinNT/2K/XP,
you can use Start > Run > Regedit.exe to edit:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\RegisteredOwner

and:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current
Version\RegisteredOrganization

    How this will affect the name displayed in previously installed
applications will vary depending upon each individual program; some
read the registered owner information dynamically, some read it only
during installation, and some don't read it al all.

    The C:\Documents and Settings\Username folders _cannot_ be
renamed, even if the associated user account has been. So, your best
course of action would be to log on using the built-in Administrator
account, create a new user account, with the username desired. You
can then delete the old user account(s).

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783 

-- 
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on 
having
both at once. - RAH

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