You probably have legitimate reasons for asking this, but don't be surprised if no one responds, or if they do, the Moderator deletes the response, since he is not likely to want to have Microsoft breathing down his neck.
 
Call Microsoft itself and discuss it with their techs.

You're running Windows 2000 Professional on a server?
 
Hmm... :x

You need not worry about this for two reasons.
 
First, there is no product activation in Win2k so this will not cause any issues.
 
Second, and perhaps more importantly. If you have valid licenses and can prove that, the product key installed really does not matter in the least.

Zen is right. Don't worry about it.

Depends on the application.
 
We run Win2k Pro on what we call servers but which are simply machines that interface with our plant equipment telemetry at our remote works.
 
They run the local telemetry server SCADA software but do not require server capability and so only run Pro.
 
Just a second opinion - however, like you all alluded to, it's only the pir8ed versions of 2k that won't accept the service packs.

I need this info too (changing Windows 2000 product key). I DO have a legitimage, legal, and necessary reason to do this.
 
We are transferring ownership of some computers that have Windows 2000 on them. The PC's were purchased with their own Windows 2000 license originally, but are currently under our company VLA Corporate license and have had Windows 2000 installed with our corporate product key. Legally, when we transfer ownership of those PC's, we have to change the product code on those PC's back to the product code that came with each PC originally so they are no longer associated with our Corporate product key. Obviously, we could just reinstall Windows 2000 on those PC's and use the other product code, but we'd VERY much like to avoid that if possible.
 
(Please don't give me a lecture on transferring ownership and data and privacy concerns. All of that has been considered and there are other factors involved. The PC's will still be used for the same business purpose, so even if we wipe the hard drive and reinstall Windows, all the same software and data will still be put back on them. It's only the legal ownership of the PC's that's being transferred from our company to another entity that's in partnership with our company.)
 
Thank you.
 

If you are worried about someone being able to decrypt your product key from the registry, just delete the data in the HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\ProductID field. Or you can set it to something entirely bogus. It does not matter.
 
Remove this key then run something like AIDA or whatever you have that usually shows the product key, it should no longer be there.
 
Posted by Felix
it's only the pir8ed versions of 2k that won't accept the service packs.
 
FUD
 
There is no checking on Win2k. The keys that don't work for service packs are for XP only.

Yeah good point. Was thinking about something else that day.