Windows update causes pc to restart

[peter]

Update on a previous post:

I was given a pc by a friend who emigrates to the States. He hadn't
used windows updates, or a firewall, or sp1 or sp2 or even a virus
checker!! I cleared the pc of viruses and spyware. I installed sp1
and
sp2 (i'm running xp) and used the firewall. the trouble is that when
I
use windows updates the pc restarts or crashes and goes to the "blue
screen" with various error messages. I'm running two virus checkers
still and both turn up nothing. the two spyware programs turn up
nothing nasty, so why do i get the problem?

The reason i mentioned how i got the pc is because it's a legit copy
of xp, but i've no way of formatting the pc and reinstalling xp as i
don't have the xp disks.


the pc works just fine without the updates, but i'd prefer to have
them on.


does anybody have any ideas short of wiping the pc and starting
again?


many thanks
Peter

 

[Rock]

Update on a previous post:

I was given a pc by a friend who emigrates to the States. He hadn't
used windows updates, or a firewall, or sp1 or sp2 or even a virus
checker!! I cleared the pc of viruses and spyware. I installed sp1
and
sp2 (i'm running xp) and used the firewall. the trouble is that when
I
use windows updates the pc restarts or crashes and goes to the "blue
screen" with various error messages. I'm running two virus checkers
still and both turn up nothing. the two spyware programs turn up
nothing nasty, so why do i get the problem?

The reason i mentioned how i got the pc is because it's a legit copy
of xp, but i've no way of formatting the pc and reinstalling xp as i
don't have the xp disks.

the pc works just fine without the updates, but i'd prefer to have
them on.

does anybody have any ideas short of wiping the pc and starting
again?

A PC that was not protected? There's no way you can be sure the system is
clean, and even if it is clean, the damage has been done. It's a loosing
proposition. Bite the bullet and reinstall clean.

 

[peter]

A PC that was not protected? There's no way you can be sure the system is
clean, and even if it is clean, the damage has been done. It's a loosing
proposition. Bite the bullet and reinstall clean.

But as I said, I'm in London, my friend has just been posted to
Washington DC. I'm not going to get the original disks in a hurry. The
version of XP is legit. I know that XP online registration means that
the same version cannot be registered twice, but if I go in control
panel and then system it gives me the registration code. Can I then
borrow some xp disks from somebody, but then when the time comes enter
the registration number from my pc? Surely the important thing is the
licence, not the disks.

Peter

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Depends on the versions of XP installation media involved. The disks you
borrow have to be the same version as the one installed-- original flavor,
Home or Pro (or MCE, etc.)not with SP1 or SP2, maybe OEM or maybe not OEM.
If the installed system comes from the same kind of disk, then what you
propose *may* work.

Is the computer a name-brand machine? If so, what is the brand? can your
friend tell you what the installation disk look like? Exactly what's written
on it? (Note that an alternative to snail mail is to have you friend make an
ISO of the disk, upload it to a personal website where you can download it.)

 

[Rock]

But as I said, I'm in London, my friend has just been posted to
Washington DC. I'm not going to get the original disks in a hurry. The
version of XP is legit. I know that XP online registration means that
the same version cannot be registered twice,

There is registration and there is activation. Registration is voluntary
and of no benefit to the user. Activation is what you are talking about,
and that is mandatory. What activation does is attempt to enforce the
license agreement that the OS can only be installed on one system at a time
(and for OEM versions cannot be transferred to a different computer).

but if I go in control
panel and then system it gives me the registration code.

That gives the PID that is used for tech support. It's not the product key
which is needed for an installation. To find what that is, if the
installation is bootable, run one of these utililties.

ViewXP http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/ViewKeyXP.exe

AIDA32 http://www.aumha.org/freeware.htm

Belarc Advisor http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

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

You haven't said whether this XP installation is retail, generic OEM or
branded OEM, installed by the PC manufacturer such as Dell or HP. If the
latter and if the OS is as it was installed originally or reinstalled by use
of the OEM provided CD, the key that will be returned by these products is
the key used by the manufacturer when the image was laid down. They use one
key for all their similar installations. It's not what one uses to
reinstall the OS. For branded OEM versions they are often BIOS locked to
the motherboard/BIOS so the user does not have to provide a key during
reinstallation provided the CD that came with the system was used.

To reinstall the OS without that provided CD, you could try a generic OEM XP
installation CD that is the same type, that is Home or Pro and the same
language version, as the product key that is on the sticker attached to the
computer case. Often times that will work, but not always. Sometimes that
key will only work with the manufacturer's supplied recovery CD.

Can I then borrow some xp disks from somebody, but then when the time
comes enter
the registration number from my pc? Surely the important thing is the
licence, not the disks.

Correct, the product key is the critical part. Yes you can copy someone
else's CD as long as it matches the product key you have. It has to match
as to:

Home vs. Pro
Full retail vs. Upgrade vs. Volume License vs. generic OEM vs branded OEM
Language version

If the product key on the sticker only works with the OEM provided recovery
CD, then you'll have to wait to get the CD that came with the system from
your friend or contact the computer OEM to get a replacement CD, or buy a
copy of XP.