Update: With the release of Service Pack 3 it is possible to install SP3 without having SP2 already installed, since SP3 includes SP2. To take advantage of this you are advised to download the SP3 package intended for IT professionals instead of using Microsoft Update, which will force you to install SP2 first. You can download the package from here. If necessary, select a different language from the drop-down box.

If you decide to install Service Pack 2, please note that you do not need to install SP1 prior to installing SP2.

Following these steps should ensure success.

1. Do not attempt to use the SP2 file available on Microsoft's update site. This uses in-built WGA validation. Instead, you need the full release provided for IT professionals and developers. Download the English language version here. For other languages, read my post on page 2 of this topic.

2. Run the executable. This file dates from 2004, before WGA validation, but there is some evidence that it may contain a check of your product key against an early list of blocked keys. If there are no problems, fine! If you obtain an invalid key response, proceed to step 3.

3. You need to change your key without involving re-activation. Download a simple keychanger here. Note that by default it displays your current key. You might like to copy and paste it in a text file so that you have the option of restoring it later. Changing your key is available under Options. If you need a new key, look around this site for suggestions. You might need to try more than one key. If you have difficulty in finding a key, look for an XP KeyGen on a torrent site. Why not use that excellent app PeerSpider, available on this site here to help you.

Alternatively, if you are a muBlinder fan, then you may download a suitable keygen from here or here.

Good luck.

Any feedback, stating version of XP (Home, Pro, Corp) would be appreciated.

Snodger, I use that exact SP2 file every time I format/reinstall, and Im running an old key as well, and I never have any problems with an invalid key error. Running XP Pro here.
Just for information sakes....

when u start the installation and come to the point where it says the key is invalid/blocked, can u stop the installation and go back to normal, or do u have to complete it?

Thanks Frink. This is just the kind of helpful feedback we need.

when u start the installation and come to the point where it says the key is invalid/blocked, can u stop the installation and go back to normal, or do u have to complete it?

I have never received this message, so I don't know when in the installation process it occurs. I assume you can cancel the installation. I'm not sure how you could complete the installation if it says your key is invalid.

no, i havn't either. but i thought it maybe was like regular windows xp installation when we press install theres no going back.

You can go back, the VLK check on SP2 happens at the beginning. I just found out that SP1 also has a VLK check. These checks both in SP1 and SP2 target well known pirated keys at the time when the service packs were released.

big surprise!! my key is invalid. one question, i use xp pro, so can i use my old pc's key (its running on windows xp home).

No. You need a key for XP Pro. Now read #3 in my first post.

ah man, just tried it out... it f**ked up my entire pc. after i'd installed sp2 and rebooted, i couldn't get pass the windows-logo screen. it just stood there for several minutes. so i had to start in safe-mode and uninstall sp2. do u know what the problem might be?? ur sp2 or my pc?

Good to see a consolidated post on this issue. We have been posting it many times but still get users with problems.

well done snodger

Sorry to hear this.

I don't know why you refer to it as my SP2. If you downloaded it from the link I provided then you have Microsoft's SP2. This is the official release and has been used on millions of computers. There can't be anything wrong with it.

From your description of your problem, it's impossible to say what the fault was.

Just a suggestion, but if you are using the key I think you are using, try to use the SP2 from Windows Update again.


Thank you engines.

That happened to me on 2 systems. On the first system (2 years ago at work) I just kept it there for around 6 hours and it worked (during the 6 hours i was looking for solutions on another machine as i couldnt afford to lose data on that PC).

The 2nd one, i just pressed Space bar and it worked.

One difference though, on both it didnt stop at at the Windows logo screen, it stopped at the desktop with no icons and no background.

i downloaded the keychanger and apparently my antivirus said that theres a trojan in it.. =/

I found it so difficult to believe that any Magical Jelly Bean file, downloaded from the official site contains a trojan, that I have just downloaded kf151.zip and extracted the file keyfinder.exe. It is clear of all malware.

P.S.

When did your antivirus program report this? If it was immediately you extracted the file, then it is a clear False Positive. If it was when you tried to run the program, what your antivirus program was probably concerned about is that the behaviour of keyfinder.exe is 'suspicious' because it is attempting to access/change something that it should not be accessing/changing. Well, we all know that don't we? That's the whole point of the exercise!

as soon as i extract the file from its zip format, i get this.

In my opinion this is a False Positive. For your peace of mind, I have unpacked the executable and inspected each component. I have identified the component for inspecting and changing Office keys as the one that could be considered 'suspicious' by a virus checker. I have removed this component.

The modified keychecker is attached here as a zip file containing 3 files.  keyfinder.zip ( 268.79K ) Number of downloads: 376


Extract them and click on findkey.exe. In this modification, you still use Options to change your key, but you no longer need to make a note of original key. Two text files will be created in the same folder as findkey.exe. One of them, xpkey.txt contains your original key. Copy this file to somewhere safe while the keyfinder program is open, because the two text files will be removed when the program is closed.

i tried all this with rock4xp and a new key but after rebooting and scanning, it still finds my original key!!!
help.....

Let me get this right. I recommend that, if you want to change your product key, you use Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v1.51 (see post before yours for my modified version of the program). You post in this topic that something called rock4xp does not work, and you ask for help.

What am I to make of that?