Legalising windows problems

[matthew.larkin]

Hi

I've acquired a second hand PC which I've been using for a few months
to play games, do some word processing etc on. I've only recently had
broadband installed so I've started to connect and I'm now getting WGA
errors. I don't want to cause any problems or use illegal software,
so I've bought XP from an online retailer. I've bought the OEM
version.

I went through the product key change after using windows update on
the PC, it accepted the new key and then rebooted. Then I was
prompted to activate windows which I did via the telephone. It said
everything was fine, so I finished, clicked to log in to windows and
it said something along the lines of "This product requires
activation, do you want to do it now" so I clicked "yes", and then it
reported straight back to me that windows was already activated, and
took me back to the login screen. And now all it will do is cycle
through that loop.

Fortunately I can get into safe mode and run system restore, so I've
restored to a few days ago and I can get in properly again. However,
I presume my machine is back to its "non-valid" state, which I'd like
to solve.

I don't want to have to reinstall windows as I've now accumulated
quite a bit of data and PC customisation that I don't want to have to
re-do.

Have I made a boo-boo by getting the OEM version? Its SP2c, whatever
that means.

Thanks!

Matt

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

perhaps a
wga removal tool
would be helpful.

you can download
via a google search.

--

<)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

..

 

[PA Bear]

Have I made a boo-boo by getting the OEM version?

Possibly. See these KB articles for assistance & troubleshooting:

How to activate Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307890

Activation and registration of a Microsoft product:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326851

After Activating (again), go to http://www.microsoft.com/genuine and click
on the "Validate Windows" button.