Windows Not Genuine

[Tom]

Two years ago, I bought a Sony PC at an estate sale that had windows XP
professonal installed.. Recently the "Windows not genuine" message started
showing up. I am sure the person I bought it from installed a pirated copy
of the XP Professional software on the PC. The PC has a sticker showing
that it came with the XP home edition. Is there any way to get back to the
home edition (which has been paid for) without buying a retail copy?

My daughter is using the PC and the features of XP profesional are not
needed; XP home would be just fine.

No, I did not get any dsks with the PC.

Any Ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Malke]

Two years ago, I bought a Sony PC at an estate sale that had windows XP
professonal installed.. Recently the "Windows not genuine" message started
showing up. I am sure the person I bought it from installed a pirated copy
of the XP Professional software on the PC. The PC has a sticker showing
that it came with the XP home edition. Is there any way to get back to the
home edition (which has been paid for) without buying a retail copy?

My daughter is using the PC and the features of XP profesional are not
needed; XP home would be just fine.

No, I did not get any dsks with the PC.

Any Ideas would be appreciated.

1. Contact Sony and see if you can get Restore Disks. You don't have to
go into the whole story; just tell them you've got a Sony model whatever
with a COA sticker on the machine and you've lost your Restore Disks.
This is the cheapest and best solution.

2. If Sony doesn't have the Restore Disks for your model machine, you
will be able to reinstall Windows with a generic OEM version of XP Home.
You would then need to install all the drivers for that machine of
course. You can purchase the generic OEM version at places like NewEgg
or decide to take the machine to a local computer repair shop where they
will have one and can do all the work for you. This will not be a
BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place. Your choice.


Malke

 

[BruceM]

Or better still, if you live around the corner from me, I'll lend you the
right disc to reinstall it uising that number on the side of the computer.
Pity you don't tell us where you are. If you're in Aussie I'd burn & send it
to you for $1.50. (Disc & postage)