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Convert retail Windows XP to OEM #

Unlocking WinXP's setupp.ini explains how to force Windows XP to accept retail, OEM, or volume license keys during installation (as well as how to change the CD's behavior). This is especially useful for installing Windows XP on a computer with an OEM license when you've only got a retail CD handy. Working from a retail ISO image, simply open I386\SETUPP.INI in a text editor and replace the last 3 digits of the Pid with "OEM" (sans quotes). Tested successfully with HP, Gateway, and Toshiba OEM product keys. See also: Editing ISO images and Product IDs (cached copy).

UPDATE: The My Digital Life Editorial Team has put together a guide with additional details, including:

• The first 5 digits of the PID are the Microsoft Product Code (MPC), which determines the version of Windows XP that will be installed. The last 3 digits are the channel ID, which determines the type of product keys that the installation wizard will accept.
• Generally, the channel ID is 335 for retail, OEM for OEM, and 270 for volume licensing, e.g.,
  • Windows XP RTM
    Retail: 51882335 (Retail edition accepting Retail CD keys)
    Volume License: 51883270 (Volume License edition accepting Volume License keys or VLK)
    OEM: 82503OEM (OEM edition accepting OEM keys or COA keys)
  • Windows XP SP2
    Retail: 55274335
    Volume License: 55274270
    OEM: 55277OEM
  • Windows XP SP3
    Retail: 76487335
    Volume License: 76487270
    OEM: 76487OEM
• Newer Windows XP discs may check whether the CD’s volume label matches the type of CD. In this case, the wrong volume label may render the disc unusable. Here’s a brief list of known English version of Windows XP CD volume labels:
  
  XP Home and Professional Combo = WXPHFPP_EN
  
  XP Home Retail = WXHFPP_EN
  XP Home Retail with SP1 = XRMHFPP_EN
  XP Home Retail with SP1a = X1AHFPP_EN
  XP Home Retail with SP2 = VRMHFPP_EN
  XP Home Upgrade = WXHCCP_EN
  XP Home Upgrade with SP1 = XRMHCCP_EN
  XP Home Upgrade with SP1a = X1AHCCP_EN
  XP Home Upgrade with SP2 = VRMHCCP_EN
  XP Home OEM = WXHOEM_EN
  XP Home OEM with SP1 = XRMHOEM_EN
  XP Home OEM with SP1a = X1AHOEM_EN
  XP Home OEM with SP2 = VRMHOEM_EN
  XP Home Volume = WXHVOL_EN
  XP Home Volume with SP1 = XRMHVOL_EN
  XP Home Volume with SP1a = X1AHVOL_EN
  XP Home Volume with SP2 = VRMHVOL_EN
  
  XP Professional Retail = WXPFPP_EN
  XP Professional Retail with SP1 = XRMPFPP_EN
  XP Professional Retail with SP1a = X1APFPP_EN
  XP Professional Retail with SP2 = VRMPFPP_EN
  XP Professional Upgrade = WXPCCP_EN
  XP Professional Upgrade with SP1 = XRMPCCP_EN
  XP Professional Upgrade with SP1a = X1APCCP_EN
  XP Professional Upgrade with SP2 = VRMPCCP_EN
  XP Professional OEM = WXPOEM_EN
  XP Professional OEM with SP1 = XRMPOEM_EN
  XP Professional OEM with SP1a = X1APOEM_EN
  XP Professional OEM with SP2 = VRMPOEM_EN
  XP Professional Volume = WXPVOL_EN
  XP Professional Volume with SP1 = XRMPVOL_EN
  XP Professional Volume with SP1a = X1APVOL_EN
  XP Professional Volume with SP2 = VRMPVOL_EN
  XP Professional Tablet PC with SP1 Disc1 = XRMPFPP_EN
  XP Professional Tablet PC with SP1a Disc1 = X1APFPP_EN
  XP Professional Tablet PC with SP2 Disc1 = VRMPFPP_EN
  XP Professional MSDN = WXPFPP_EN
  XP Professional MSDN with SP1 = XRMPFPP_EN
  XP Professional MSDN with SP1a = X1APFPP_EN
  XP Professional MSDN with SP2 = VRMPFPP_EN
  XP Professional Evaluation = WXPEVL_EN

See also Lunarsoft's Product IDs page for yet more information.

/windows | Jun 19, 2009

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