Making it legal

[joe dzurinda]

I just bought a used computer that doesn't have a legal version of XP Pro on
it. How can I make it legal? If I buy XP and install will it wipe
everything out?

 

[Guest]

It should make sure you get a full version of win xp

 

[Steven]

If you have a spare hdd, or can borrow one, then copy the files you want to
keep to that disk. Then wipe the main disk and install XP Pro and then copy
the file you want to keep back to the main disk.

Steven

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Joe.

If that used computer has nothing on it that you want to keep (and you are
entitled to keep), then the solution is simple:

Buy a full retail package of WinXP (either Pro or Home), set your computer
to boot from CD, insert the WinXP CD-ROM and turn on the power...and just
follow the prompts. One of the first questions is whether you want to
repartition and/or reformat the hard drive. Tell it yes.

If that computer does have programs and/or data that you are entitled to
keep, you can do an "in-place upgrade". This will take as long as a fresh
install of WinXP, but it will preserve the installed applications and data.
For full instructions, see:
How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

Of course, if the computer has an illegal copy of WinXP, then it may very
well have other unlicensed software, and there's a very high probability
that it also includes viruses and other malware, plus the prior owner's data
(even if he thought he erased it) and garbage. In this case, a fresh
install is the ONLY way to go, in my opinion.

After either a fresh install or an in-place upgrade, get a good firewall and
antivirus working and then, as soon as you can get online, go to Windows
Update to download and install the latest Service Pack plus all later fixes
to protect your machine from all the bad guys out there.

Better set aside half a day to do all this.

RC

 

[Terry]

Yep thats's what i'd do..

Hi, Joe.

If that used computer has nothing on it that you want to keep (and you are
entitled to keep), then the solution is simple:

Buy a full retail package of WinXP (either Pro or Home), set your computer
to boot from CD, insert the WinXP CD-ROM and turn on the power...and just
follow the prompts. One of the first questions is whether you want to
repartition and/or reformat the hard drive. Tell it yes.

If that computer does have programs and/or data that you are entitled to
keep, you can do an "in-place upgrade". This will take as long as a fresh
install of WinXP, but it will preserve the installed applications and data.
For full instructions, see:
How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

Of course, if the computer has an illegal copy of WinXP, then it may very
well have other unlicensed software, and there's a very high probability
that it also includes viruses and other malware, plus the prior owner's data
(even if he thought he erased it) and garbage. In this case, a fresh
install is the ONLY way to go, in my opinion.

After either a fresh install or an in-place upgrade, get a good firewall and
antivirus working and then, as soon as you can get online, go to Windows
Update to download and install the latest Service Pack plus all later fixes
to protect your machine from all the bad guys out there.

Better set aside half a day to do all this.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I just bought a used computer that doesn't have a legal version of XP
Pro on it. How can I make it legal? If I buy XP and install will
it wipe everything out?

I can't tell from the above above whether you want to wipe
everything out or not, but let me give you my standard advice
about buying used computers:

If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it
is reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how
the computer has been maintained, what has been installed
incorrectly, what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may
be, etc. I wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes
and problems, and I wouldn't recommend that anyone else do
either.

If you buy a copy of Windows XP, yes, you can install it cleanly
and wipe everything out.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

With a second-hand computer, particularly if it was acquired from
a complete stranger, your wisest course of action would probably be to
format the hard drive and start fresh. You don't want to get in
trouble because the original owner may have filled the with kiddie
porn, or have problems because the original owner downloaded/installed
viruses or other malware. Some unscrupulous people could even sell a
used computer preconfigured with the necessary key-loggers and spyware
to collect your personal information for future use. Particularly as
it came with an illicit copy of WinXP installed, I really wouldn't
trust anything else on the PC.

However, if you wish to proceed, 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



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

 

[Plato]

If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it
is reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how

I agree. But first I'd wipe the drive with zeros to make it factory
fresh then start with a new partition and so on. eg you want to get rid
of any crap in the boot sector as well.