Is there a way to change the Windows serial?

I realsie my subject heading is a bit strange so i will explain myself properly. What i am after is i would like to know if there is a way i can get into the registry and change the serial which was put in when installing the Windows software. The reason i ask is because i do a copious amount of ghosting, and unfortunately the drawback with this is that that makes only 1 valid Windows licence. I do however have all the licenses that ship with the computers but now need to change the registry so the newly ghosted machine becomes authentic.

At the moment i am getting hassles with auto-updates and a few other things. The new "you may be using counterfiet software" download is a massive killer.

Is this something that can be done through the registry or perhaps another way?

Any suggestions or leads would be a great help. Thanks in advance.

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Comments

TheShadow

Well assuming you have a volume license here is the official Microsoft support article on registry modification.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874/

sprkymrk

If you are doing a copious amount of ghosting you should download and use Microsoft's Sysprep utility.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302577

That strips the SID and allows you to enter the Product ID during the mini-setup phase of each new computer. I cannot assume you have an Enterprise License or you wouldn't have the problems you are seeing.

To fix computers you have already imaged you can try keyfinder:

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

garv221

The magic jellybean is the ticket.

jescab

I thought magic jellybean found your key code - does it also change it for you?

Cessation

jescab wrote:

I thought magic jellybean found your key code - does it also change it for you?

Yes you may also change it with the Bean aswell.
Pretty good program.

jescab

I will have to get a copy of that handy little program "the bean" then.........thanks................

steve-o87

garv221 wrote:

The magic jellybean is the ticket.

And there's me thinking you were being a smart ass

albanga

Great thanks heaps. The jellybean program worked like a charm.

Plantwiz

sprkymrk wrote:

If you are doing a copious amount of ghosting you should download and use Microsoft's Sysprep utility.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302577

That strips the SID and allows you to enter the Product ID during the mini-setup phase of each new computer. I cannot assume you have an Enterprise License or you wouldn't have the problems you are seeing.

Any reason you haven't used the Sysprep tool to handle this?

Trailerisf

Install the machine the way you want it, then sysprep...
Trust us.