"Illegal" copy of XP Pro? How to fix?

[sarapena]

Hello, last Xmas I got my sister a pretty good used computer off Craigslist,
but didn't think to ask for the windows disc. It came with XP professional.
She used it for a few months, but then started getting messages that said she
had an "illegal" or "unauthorized" version of Windows. I assumed that the
guy we got it from probably used the disc and activation code on another
computer, which made our version invalid. Is this a fair assumption? Or
could it be something else? We are going to get her Windows this Xmas, but
I'm thinking that because she already has the software on her computer, it
might be cheaper and easier to just buy a valid key. Microsoft will charge
$60 just to ask them, and I can't find the info anywhere. Any advice on what
to do or where to turn? Thanks!

 

[Daave]

Hello, last Xmas I got my sister a pretty good used computer off
Craigslist, but didn't think to ask for the windows disc. It came
with XP professional. She used it for a few months, but then started
getting messages that said she had an "illegal" or "unauthorized"
version of Windows. I assumed that the guy we got it from probably
used the disc and activation code on another computer, which made our
version invalid. Is this a fair assumption? Or could it be
something else? We are going to get her Windows this Xmas, but I'm
thinking that because she already has the software on her computer,
it might be cheaper and easier to just buy a valid key. Microsoft
will charge $60 just to ask them, and I can't find the info anywhere.
Any advice on what to do or where to turn? Thanks!

What kind of PC is it? If it's a typical PC like a Dell, Gateway, HP,
etc., check to see if there is a Certificate of Authenticity sticker on
the case. Depending on the PC, going legal might involve restoring an
image on a hidden partition or obtaining an installation or recovery
disk and using the product key on the COA sticker.

If this is a no-name PC, then you would need to purchase an XP
installation disk. Since she probably doesn't need the features of Pro,
it would be cheaper to purchase XP Home.

If you have or are able to get an installation disk to an older version
of Windows (e.g., 98), you should purchase an Upgrade (rather than Full)
version of XP Home.

 

[sarapena]

What kind of PC is it? If it's a typical PC like a Dell, Gateway, HP,
etc., check to see if there is a Certificate of Authenticity sticker on
the case. Depending on the PC, going legal might involve restoring an
image on a hidden partition or obtaining an installation or recovery
disk and using the product key on the COA sticker.

If this is a no-name PC, then you would need to purchase an XP
installation disk. Since she probably doesn't need the features of Pro,
it would be cheaper to purchase XP Home.

If you have or are able to get an installation disk to an older version
of Windows (e.g., 98), you should purchase an Upgrade (rather than Full)
version of XP Home.

Thanks for responding. It's a no name, no sticker. And I don't have an
older version of window. What about the option of buying a code to use my
authentic version of Windows on another computer? Otherwise, what do you
think of an OEM version of XP home? They are less expensive...

 

[Daave]

Thanks for responding. It's a no name, no sticker. And I don't have
an older version of window. What about the option of buying a code
to use my authentic version of Windows on another computer?
Otherwise, what do you think of an OEM version of XP home? They are
less expensive...

To the best of my knowledge, purchasing the license only (rather than a
disk, which comes with a license) is only slightly less expensive. And
since having a disk is very important (for a clean installation, a
repair installation, etc.), it's normally much better just to get the
disk.

I guess it's possible to purchase a license and use your Windows
installation disk. What kind of disk is it? Retail or OEM? And if the
latter, branded OEM or generic OEM?

Don't do it. I just checked
http://www.microsoft.com/products/info/editorial/22/promotions/wal/

Version Additional License Price

Windows XP Professional-full version $269.00
Windows XP Home Edition-full version $184.00

It's cheaper to just buy the disk!

See

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Win...f=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1198122575&sr=1-2

The above is for the full retail version.

http://software.pricegrabber.com/windows-family-os/m/676870/skd=1/search=windows%20xp%20oem/

The above is for a generic OEM version, which will only be allowed to be
installed on one PC and *on that one PC only*. A full retail version
will cost about twice as much, but you can eventually transfer it to
another PC if you wish (provided you first remove it from the first PC).
An Upgrade version, by the way, has the advantage of portability (like
the full retail) but costs about the same as a generic OEM version.

 

[sarapena]

To the best of my knowledge, purchasing the license only (rather than a
disk, which comes with a license) is only slightly less expensive. And
since having a disk is very important (for a clean installation, a
repair installation, etc.), it's normally much better just to get the
disk.

I guess it's possible to purchase a license and use your Windows
installation disk. What kind of disk is it? Retail or OEM? And if the
latter, branded OEM or generic OEM?

Don't do it. I just checked
http://www.microsoft.com/products/info/editorial/22/promotions/wal/

Version Additional License Price

Windows XP Professional-full version $269.00
Windows XP Home Edition-full version $184.00

It's cheaper to just buy the disk!

See

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Win...f=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1198122575&sr=1-2

The above is for the full retail version.

http://software.pricegrabber.com/windows-family-os/m/676870/skd=1/search=windows%20xp%20oem/

The above is for a generic OEM version, which will only be allowed to be
installed on one PC and *on that one PC only*. A full retail version
will cost about twice as much, but you can eventually transfer it to
another PC if you wish (provided you first remove it from the first PC).
An Upgrade version, by the way, has the advantage of portability (like
the full retail) but costs about the same as a generic OEM version.

Thanks for all your help and research! Actually, that first link you put
helped a lot, because one of the big questions I had was whether we'd be able
to get a discount product key since we unknowingly had an illegal copy.
Through that link I found that we won't be able to since we bought the
computer new (you have to be able to supply a receipt, purchase date, where
it was bought, etc.). So our only choice is to buy a disc. I think we'll go
with the OEM, I don't think she'll ever need to put it on another computer.
Anyway, thanks for all your help!

 

[Alias]

I think we'll go
with the OEM, I don't think she'll ever need to put it on another computer.
Anyway, thanks for all your help!

That's what I would do. Note that with generic OEMs, you can update the
computer as much as you like and if you want to move it to another
computer, all you have to do is make sure that the new computer
activates 120 days after the last activation.

Alias

 

[sarapena]

Cool, thanks, good to know!

That's what I would do. Note that with generic OEMs, you can update the
computer as much as you like and if you want to move it to another
computer, all you have to do is make sure that the new computer
activates 120 days after the last activation.

Alias

 

[Plato]

Hello, last Xmas I got my sister a pretty good used computer off Craigslist,
but didn't think to ask for the windows disc. It came with XP professional.

Anytime you get used PC one should wipe the drive first, then install
the OS you want to use. And, always have the official CD for the OS you
want to use.

 

[Onsokumaru]

Anytime you get used PC one should wipe the drive first, then install
the OS you want to use. And, always have the official CD for the OS you
want to use.

He will go back in time and do that right now...

 

[Bob I]

He will go back in time and do that right now...

Then unfortunately it will have to be corrected now.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Obviously a problem can not be corrected in the past.
However the point was to reinstall to ensure no garbage, spyware,
viruses, malware, illegal content etc. is on the computer.

If a problem is not solved early, it still remains and should be
resolved as soon as possible, in this case, now.

 

[Plato]

They do it on Star Trek all the time