I was ripped off - any advice?

[Dog Face]

Last year, I bought a copy of Windows XP Pro from a vendor at a Marketpro
week-end computer show and sale. It installed just fine, and I have been
using it for nearly a year without problems.

The other day, I tried to install Service Pack 1. It would not install, and
I received an error message about an invalid license number, or something
like that. I called Microsoft's anti-piracy hot line (800-R-U-LEGIT) and
they told me that I have a "suspect" copy of XP and that they offer no
support options whatsoever. Hence, the inability to install the SP. They
said I should get rid of that copy of XP and buy a legitimate copy. So, I
guess I was ripped off by a rogue vendor.

My real question is this. If I buy a new copy of XP, can I install it over
the existing installation? Or will I have to delete the old installation
and install from scratch? Is there a way to keep all the programs I have
installed and just "legitimize" my copy of XP?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Nicholas]

You'll need to purchase a "full retail version" of Windows XP
Professional and use the new Windows XP CD and Product Key to
perform a "repair install".

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]


--
Nicholas

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Last year, I bought a copy of Windows XP Pro from a vendor at a Marketpro
| week-end computer show and sale. It installed just fine, and I have been
| using it for nearly a year without problems.
|
| The other day, I tried to install Service Pack 1. It would not install, and
| I received an error message about an invalid license number, or something
| like that. I called Microsoft's anti-piracy hot line (800-R-U-LEGIT) and
| they told me that I have a "suspect" copy of XP and that they offer no
| support options whatsoever. Hence, the inability to install the SP. They
| said I should get rid of that copy of XP and buy a legitimate copy. So, I
| guess I was ripped off by a rogue vendor.
|
| My real question is this. If I buy a new copy of XP, can I install it over
| the existing installation? Or will I have to delete the old installation
| and install from scratch? Is there a way to keep all the programs I have
| installed and just "legitimize" my copy of XP?
|
| Thanks in advance.

 

[Dog Face]

That's great news. Thanks.

You'll need to purchase a "full retail version" of Windows XP
Professional and use the new Windows XP CD and Product Key to
perform a "repair install".

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

David;
That link does not apply.
The OP has a Volume License key and he needs to switch to retail so
the Repair Installation suggested by Nicholas is the fix.

P.S.
Where have you been? I have not seen you in a while?

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://dts-l.org/index.html


Yes but buy the retail version (don't get ripped again with an OEM
version), no but you can, yes see
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;321636

 

[David Candy]

Playing Rise Of Nations. Stupid game, flawed in concept. I spent 12 hours on monday in a battle for three inches of screen space. Because me and the computer had advanced to max technologies we could produce units instantly so the battle was just attrittion with both of us replacing our losses almost immediently. Even when I could mass overwhelming force and wipe out his army it would be reconstituted almost immediently leading to no gain

I'm just an old clautzwitzian looking for the decisive battle. And the game doesn't really allow that..