Invalid Product Key..Legal or Illegal Version om my Computer

M

Mike Jr.

I just tried to download XP Professional's Service Pack1 and when I
did I got the message "Product Key Invalid" and the download stopped.
It said I might have a computer problem or an illegal copy of
Microsoft's XP.

I had just build this computer and a friend gave me a CD copy of XP
Professional. I hold him I thought you couldn't load XP except once on
a computer. He said it was OK to load it on as many computers as you
wanted, only don't register it with Microsoft.

So is that true or do I have an illegal copy of XP????? If I have an
illegal copy, can I purchase a copy of XP and re-install it over my
existing XP.

I would like to get updates to XP as well as to install future new
versions of Xp.

I do not want to reformat my "C" drive if I can help it although I do
have it backed up on Ghost, only it has the XP (Illegal Version???)
installed on it.

What are your suggestions on what I might do to find out if I have a
legal copy of XP or an illegal copy and if it is illegal, how to get a
legal version installed????

Thanks
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

Your "friend" has done you a disservice by offering you a pirated,
illegitimate copy of Windows XP that will not accept the SP1
critical update.

You need to purchase a legitimate "full version" of Windows XP
Professional, then perform a "repair install".

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341

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


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

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


| I just tried to download XP Professional's Service Pack1 and when I
| did I got the message "Product Key Invalid" and the download stopped.
| It said I might have a computer problem or an illegal copy of
| Microsoft's XP.
|
| I had just build this computer and a friend gave me a CD copy of XP
| Professional. I hold him I thought you couldn't load XP except once on
| a computer. He said it was OK to load it on as many computers as you
| wanted, only don't register it with Microsoft.
|
| So is that true or do I have an illegal copy of XP????? If I have an
| illegal copy, can I purchase a copy of XP and re-install it over my
| existing XP.
|
| I would like to get updates to XP as well as to install future new
| versions of Xp.
|
| I do not want to reformat my "C" drive if I can help it although I do
| have it backed up on Ghost, only it has the XP (Illegal Version???)
| installed on it.
|
| What are your suggestions on what I might do to find out if I have a
| legal copy of XP or an illegal copy and if it is illegal, how to get a
| legal version installed????
|
| Thanks
 
L

Lorne Smith

You most certainly DO have an illegal copy of XP installed. XP can only be
installed on ONE computer at a time, read the EULA you must agree to before
you install it.

What you should do it buy a copy of XP from your local store and install it.
As you only have XP installed on the PC at the moment and no other software,
you would be best to do a fresh install, but if you wish you can do a repair
installation.

Boot from the CD, take the Install option and the installer will then detect
your existing install and ask if you want to repair it. After doing a
repair you will have to reapply any updates you've already done so you may
as well do a clean install anyway, especially as you can't really tell what
else may have been done to the pirated copy...

HTH

Lorne

PS: Oh, and give your friend a slap for being exceedingly naughty... :)
 
M

Mike Jr.

I have a lot of files/programs on "C" that I do not want to reinstall.
Should I do a "Fresh" or a "Repair" installation??? Also, will I need
just the "Upgrade Version or will I need the $279.00 version?
 
S

Steve C. Ray

Yes, you have a illegal copy. Purchase a legal copy of XP Pro and do a
repair install. This will allow you to insert the valid Product Key, and you
won't loose your data and settings. And in the future don't listen to your
friend.

To do a repair install:

Start the operating system from the CD-ROM (you may have to set your BIOS to
have the CD drive as the first boot device)

When the computer starts from the CD, the system checks your hardware

and then prompts you to select one of the following options:

To set up 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.


Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.

A box lists your current Windows XP installation, and then the system

prompts you to select one of the following options:

To repair the selected Windows XP installation, press R.

To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing, press
ESC.

Press R to start the automatic repair process. After repairing Windows XP,

you will need re-download all updates,starting with SP1.
 
L

Lorne Smith

Yes you can purchase just an upgrade version, but you must have an earlier
version of windows such as 98, 98SE, ME or Win2000 to install it and be
legal. Alternatively, you could also buy an OEM copy for a LOT less BUT
these versions have some very important restrictions:

1) They cannot under any circumstances be moved from the first PC they
are installed on to another, even if that PC dies or is stolen.
2) There is NO support available from Microsoft
3) You cannot perform an "upgrade" install, though a fresh install or
repair install will work fine
4) You don't get a nice pretty box :)
5) You can normally only get these with a piece of hardware, though I've
seen them sold with as little as a mouse or power lead :)

For myself, I chose an OEM, but then I know the restrictions before hand and
am quite happy with them. If you're unsure, then best to get a retail copy.

A repair install will work fine for you, but you should backup anything you
don't want to lose first "just in case" ;-)

HTH

Lorne
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Greetings --

Are you trying to install Service Pack 1a 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

Remember, you should also report whomever sold you the pirated
software to the pertinent law enforcement agencies; you've been
defrauded.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
G

Gary Tait

Yes you can purchase just an upgrade version, but you must have an earlier
version of windows such as 98, 98SE, ME or Win2000 to install it and be
legal. Alternatively, you could also buy an OEM copy for a LOT less BUT
these versions have some very important restrictions:
Click to expand...

More accurately, a copy of a qualifying OS for that PC.

You cannot use an OEM version that is from another PC, nor
a copy that is either in stalled on, or has been used as qualifying
media for an OS install on another system.
 

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