Hi,

I've lost my OS and re-installed another copy of XP and I have no
recovery CD for the machine.

I just discovered an XP registration code on a sticker on the bottom
of the notebook, so I would like to flush the registration code I have
used and replace it with the one on the sticker that I found.  I'm
assuming it's a registry change to cause the system to re-request a
registration?

Also, I have lost a bit of functionality on my notebook due to lack of
drivers, such as the touch pad scroling and the ability to have XP
sleep as I can only shutdown or restart.

Thank you.

/Lizardnation

Hello lizardnation, 

First, let's deal with the problem of updating your Windows XP
registration code. Following the release of Windows XP Service Pack 1,
Microsoft banned some keys that allowed one to skip the registration
process. The instructions they released at that time will work to help
you as well:

Use the Activation Wizard
If you have only a few volume licensing product keys to change, you
can use the Activation Wizard.

NOTE: Microsoft recommends that you run System Restore to create a new
restore point before you complete the following steps. For information
about how to create a restore point by using System Restore, see the
"To Create a Restore Point" help topic in Help and Support.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious
problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system.
Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result
from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your
own risk.

Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
In the left pane, locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents

In the right pane, right-click OOBETimer, and then click Modify.
Change at least one digit of this value to deactivate Windows.
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type the following command, and then click OK.
%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a

Click Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to
activate Windows, and then click Next.
Click Change Product key.
Type the new product key in the New key boxes, and then click Update.

If you are returned to the previous window, click Remind me later, and
then restart the computer.
Repeat steps 6 and 7 to verify that Windows is activated. You receive
the following message:
Windows is already activated. Click OK to exit. 

Click OK.
Install SP1 for Windows XP. 

If you cannot restart Windows after you install SP1, press F8 when you
restart the computer, select Last Known Good Configuration, and then
repeat this procedure.
SOURCE: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=328874

Here are some instructions (although not from Microsoft directly) that
will do the same thing:
http://igloo.its.unimelb.edu.au/Webmail/tips/msg00647.html

----------------------------------------------------

Regarding your HP issue, what you should do is contact HP and have
them ship out a new CD. Usually if your computer was shipped without
one, they will pick up the shipping cost. If your copy was destroyed
or lost, they will send you one for free as long as you pay the
shipping cost.

You can download all the drivers that HP has made available for your
model at this website:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?locale=en_US&pnameOID=74449&taskId=135&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=74447&lang=en&cc=us

You may also want to try clicking on "Download drivers and bios" here
to have HP attempt to automatically update your computer:
http://isupport4.hp.com/euserv/jsp/selfHelp.jsp?mode=enduser&region=NA

Microsoft also releases popular drivers at
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com Your computer will be scanned and
any required updates can easily be applied (for free).

If these three links do not get everything working, I recommend that
you contact HP and ask them to ship you out a new copy of your
recovery disks. Here is the contact information for HP (if you prefer
phone numbers, skip this link):
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/CallHP.jsp?locale=en_US&docIndexId=178966&taskId=101

If you live in the United States, I would try the very last number
listed on this page first:
http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/contact/phone_assist.html

If you do not live in the United States, try here:
http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/eng/wwcontact.html

I hope this was the answer you were expecting. Please let me know if
you require any additional clarification and I will do my best to
further assist you.

All the best,

tisme-ga


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