Not Authentic PID on Windows XP Professional?

[Guest]

I had some computer problems a few years ago and a nice guy who installed my
cable offered to take my computer home and work on it. I was using XP Home
edition at the time. When he brought it back, he had fixed it up, adding some
software in the meantime, as well as upgrading my OS to Windows XP
Professional. I thought that was very nice, but now when I try to download
SP2, I get an error message stating that I may not have an authentic copy
running. When I try to use the Validation Assistant, a message pops up that
says the validation assistant failed to run properly. please validate that
you are running a supported operating system and allow Active X to run. I've
checked both things out and they should fit the criteria. I'm wondering if my
OS is not genuine. I have the PID #. Can anyone help me with this?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

See this:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/default.mspx

I suspect, however, that you are correct in that he installed an illegally
obtained version. Bad news is that there is only one way back to the
original WinXP Home system, and the process will remove all existing data on
the system.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

I've already been there. Since I can't use the Validation Assistant, I have
to try to "compare" my version to authentic versions.If itchecks out as
authentic, then what? It doesn't say what to do next. I'm afraid I'm going to
have to do an uninstall. Egad! Maybe I'll just put up with the constant
notifications about updates ready to download...

 

[Guest]

If you have a genuine edition of XP Home, then you can perform a repair
installation and use the Genuine PID that came with the CD.

This will reinstate the XP configuration to the authentic state, but will
not affect all application software or your data.

From there, you will re activate, then upgrade to SP2 without problems.

Perform a Repair Install by following these step by step instructions.

Boot up your PC from the CD drive, with the XP installation CD inserted;

When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below:-

This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on
your computer:

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

Press Enter to start the Windows Setup.

Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows
installations.

Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list [I suggest you
have only one] and press R to start the repair.

Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. Leave the
Installation CD inserted as there are files that will be needed, but do not
choose to boot from CD when the message appears.

Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your
applications and settings will remain intact.

 

[D.Currie]

A repair install of XP Home over XP Pro isn't going to work. It' got to be a
format and clean install to go back to home.

If you have a genuine edition of XP Home, then you can perform a repair
installation and use the Genuine PID that came with the CD.

This will reinstate the XP configuration to the authentic state, but will
not affect all application software or your data.

From there, you will re activate, then upgrade to SP2 without problems.

Perform a Repair Install by following these step by step instructions.

Boot up your PC from the CD drive, with the XP installation CD inserted;

When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options
below:-

This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on
your computer:

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

Press Enter to start the Windows Setup.

Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows
installations.

Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list [I suggest you
have only one] and press R to start the repair.

Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. Leave
the
Installation CD inserted as there are files that will be needed, but do
not
choose to boot from CD when the message appears.

Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your
applications and settings will remain intact.

I've already been there. Since I can't use the Validation Assistant, I
have
to try to "compare" my version to authentic versions.If itchecks out as
authentic, then what? It doesn't say what to do next. I'm afraid I'm
going to
have to do an uninstall. Egad! Maybe I'll just put up with the constant
notifications about updates ready to download...

 

[D.Currie]

I had some computer problems a few years ago and a nice guy who installed
my
cable offered to take my computer home and work on it. I was using XP Home
edition at the time. When he brought it back, he had fixed it up, adding
some
software in the meantime, as well as upgrading my OS to Windows XP
Professional. I thought that was very nice, but now when I try to download
SP2, I get an error message stating that I may not have an authentic copy
running. When I try to use the Validation Assistant, a message pops up
that
says the validation assistant failed to run properly. please validate that
you are running a supported operating system and allow Active X to run.
I've
checked both things out and they should fit the criteria. I'm wondering if
my
OS is not genuine. I have the PID #. Can anyone help me with this?

It's highly unlikely that someone would give you software worth that much
just because he installed your cable and he's a nice guy. And if he was some
sort of eccentric rich guy who installs cable for fun, in order for the
license to be good, he would have had to have given you the CD and the CD
key that went with it.

If your computer is working well now, that's nice, but if things go wrong
and you don't have that XP Pro CD to repair or reinstall, you're going to
have one of two options: buy a legal copy of Pro to fix whatever's wrong, or
format the hard drive, lose everything you've got, and do a clean install of
Home.

You're better off planning for disaster and getting things organized now. If
you like and want XP Pro, get yourself a legal disk; otherwise back up what
you need and do a clean install of Home.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

This article lists the known pirated ID's that are blocked:

Error Message: The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=326904

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I had some computer problems a few years ago and a nice guy who
installed my cable offered to take my computer home and work on it.
I
was using XP Home edition at the time. When he brought it back, he
had fixed it up, adding some software in the meantime, as well as
upgrading my OS to Windows XP Professional. I thought that was very
nice, but now when I try to download SP2, I get an error message
stating that I may not have an authentic copy running. When I try to
use the Validation Assistant, a message pops up that says the
validation assistant failed to run properly. please validate that
you
are running a supported operating system and allow Active X to run.
I've checked both things out and they should fit the criteria. I'm
wondering if my OS is not genuine. I have the PID #. Can anyone help
me with this?

If you are trying to install a WinXP Service Pack and getting the
following:

The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q326904

You need to purchase and use a _legitimate_ full retail copy of
WinXP Pro to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation,
using the new CD and Product Key.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

--

Bruce Chambers

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