Re: SECOND HAND PURCHASE OF COMPUTER WITH XP

From: Roger Abell [MVP] (mvpNOSPAM@asu.edu)
Date: 11/09/02 

From: "Roger Abell [MVP]" <mvpNOSPAM@asu.edu>
Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 10:05:54 -0700

"Phil Sharman" <philip.sharman@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:4bf101c28806$a6cc8dc0$35ef2ecf@TKMSFTNGXA11...
> Roger
> Thanks for the useful response. Can I ever change the
> original owner's name?
> Phil
No problem Phil.

I do not really know the answer to your question,
and, it depends on whether it is just internal to your
install, or if also registered with MS.

I am trying to remember, and failing, if when one
does an upgrade/repair over-install of the existing
system, whether it asks for the owner name. I just
cannot remember right now although I have done
this a few times and know it asks for the installation
key string, and a number of other things. However,
I do not recall being asked with the dialog for the
registered name and organization info.

There probably is a way to change what MS has
as the registered owner, but I do not have that info.

Keep in mind that the product can be registered
entirely separately from activation, and so is not
tied to the activation string. If you search the registry
for the prior owner name you will find it and changing
it will not have any impact of the activation status of
the install. It is for example at
hklm\software\microsoft\windowsnt\currentversion
and then with further installs it gets copied to many places
hkcu\software\microsoft\MS Setup (ACME)
and many at
hklm\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\installer\
and possibly more at
hklm\software\other-company-name
>From these, I doubt that there is a way to clean out the
old owner info, short of a format and clean install. 

--
Roger
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Activation and registration are different actions.
> >The main thing is to make sure that the XP was legally
> >transferred to you, which means that you did receive
> >the original CD and installation key, and that the
> previous
> >owner did relinquish all of the software to you and stop
> >use of it anywhere (which, if they were legal they have
> >as it was only installed on the one machine).  Getting the
> >CD and installation key and the main thing. These are
> >what you may, likely at some time will, need in the
> future.
> >MS may or may not have any record of who the prior
> >owner was, it all depends on whether they registered or
> >not (it is optional).
> >--
> >Roger Abell
> >MS MVP (Security, Windows), MCDBA,  MCSE both
> >Associate Expert - Windows XP ExpertZone
> >http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> >
> >"Phil Sharman" <phiip.sharman@virgin.net> wrote in message
> >news:7e7701c287f6$fcf5ffc0$39ef2ecf@TKMSFTNGXA08...
> >> I have recntly purchased second hand a medion computer
> >> with XP loaded.  The previous owner has moved to a Mac.
> >>
> >> Do I have to reactivate the computer?
> >> How do I change the owner's name?
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >> Phil
> >
> >
> >.
> >

Relevant Pages

  • Re: permissions maybe/bought computer, it is still registered in the sellers name
    ... I don't understand how the previous owner could have reinstalled XP for me the new owner without opening the sealed cd envelopes. ... Macromedia Shockwave 10 product on this computer also and am wondering if it is what is not letting XP SP 3 and Flash Player install. ... I am wondering what good it will do me to change the previous owners name in the registry. ... associated user account has been. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers)
  • Re: permissions maybe/bought computer, it is still registered in the sellers name
    ... Macromedia Shockwave 10 product on this computer also and am wondering if it is what is not letting XP SP 3 and Flash Player install. ... I am wondering what good it will do me to change the previous owners name in the registry. ... It seems there may be a legality involved here even though the previous owner is not the legal owner now, I mean, even if what I change his name to, it seems the new name should be registered properly for any effect. ... associated user account has been. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers)
  • Re: permissions maybe/bought computer, it is still registered in the sellers name
    ... I am wondering what good it will do me to change the previous owners name in the registry. ... It seems there may be a legality involved here even though the previous owner is not the legal owner now, I mean, even if what I change his name to, it seems the new name should be registered properly for any effect. ... Adobe Flash Player will not install and I see at ... associated user account has been. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers)
  • Re: How to change registered to name?
    ... Are you selling off the laptop? ... The new owner doesn't care what is the old registered name stored in the registry of the currently installed OS. ... The new owner should be formatting the partitionand doing a FRESH install of the operating system. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: installing visio 2003
    ... > are able to install all office software, ... The other thing I forgot to mention is that it is running windows xp ... Setup cannot open the registry key ...
    (microsoft.public.visio)