Non-genuine to genuine!!!

[STUART ESSOM]

This is driving me mad!

A while ago after upgrading my windows to sp2 I found out that i had been
conned by the (now defunct) PC shop where i bought my PC in Birmingham.
The "Not A Genuine Copy Of Windows, You May Have Been A Victim Of Software
Counterfeiting" came on and stayed there!

After a while i thought i'd better do something about this. So I took advise
and forked out for a brand new GENUINE copy of windows with coa etc..
I presumed (and was told) that i could install the new copy over my old
windows and would be able to save all my files etc. and all would be ok.

On installing the new GENUINE copy of windows though, and typing in the
correct key and activating it the "Not A Genuine Copy Of Windows, You May
Have Been A Victim Of Software Counterfeiting" is still there!!!

I am now caught in bootup loop that gets to the Welcome Screen. I try to
logon, window appears with This Copy Of Windows Is Not Genuine - Get Genuine
or Resolve Later.
Then a error window appears saying that i need to activate..... when i press
it to activate it says its already activated and returns to login box!!!!

Now i've been told by a PC repair man that the only way i can get round this
is completely wiping my hard drive and starting again.... which of course
means losing all my files!
The objective of buying a new GENUINE copy of windows was so that i could
KEEP all my files in tact!

Does someone know a way around this.

Thanks

Stuey

 

[neil]

Did you buy a retail version of windows xp or an OEM version. I believe you
need the retail version to carry out a repair install.

Neil

 

[STUART ESSOM]

Thanks for the reply Neil.

Mm... perhaps thats where i went wrong. It is an OEM version.

I WAS told that i would be able to repair from a full OEM version though, as
long as is wasnt an upgrade, and as long as is was the same version ie xp
pro rather than xp home.

I think its a bit mean of microsoft to treat everybody like criminals in
there persuit of pirates though.

The OEM version that I bought had a choice of doing a repair installation,
so I carried it out and i'm still as stuck as i was before.

Can anyone offer anymore help? Is there a way to get round this. Im
certainly not forking out for another version of windows.

Thanks

Stuart

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

Back up (save) all of your important files, then do a clean install..

 

[AJR]

Neil - may be too late to assist, however the best way to cope with
an"invalid or Illegal" installation is to take advantage of Microsoft's
offer of assistance when you get the invalid message.
The cost is $159 - well worth it because in addition to sending you, via
e-mail, a product key which validates the installed XP, Microsoft also
sends you a XP CD with it's own product key.

 

[AJR]

Actually you have two valid versions of XP - the one installed and the
uninstalled CD.

 

[STUART ESSOM]

Back up (save) all of your important files, then do a clean install..

How do i do this if I cannot login to windows??

I can login in safemode - will I be able to save/backup files from there??

Thanks

 

[neil]

So that would be £83.41 and does that give you a full retail licence, if it
does not bad.....

Neil

 

[STUART ESSOM]

Neil - may be too late to assist, however the best way to cope with

an"invalid or Illegal" installation is to take advantage of Microsoft's
offer of assistance when you get the invalid message.
The cost is $159 - well worth it because in addition to sending you, via
e-mail, a product key which validates the installed XP, Microsoft also
sends you a XP CD with it's own product key.

Problem being I cant get on-line on the said machine to request assistance
from microsoft.
Plus when I DO click the "Get Genuine" button it just sends me in a loop of
asking me to activate and then says 'windows is already activated' and sends
me back to the login screen!

To be honest I dont fancy spending a single penny on more microsoft
software.

Is there a UK complaints department/procedure??

Thanks

 

[Andrew Bailey]

Problem being I cant get on-line on the said machine to request assistance
from microsoft.
Plus when I DO click the "Get Genuine" button it just sends me in a loop
of
asking me to activate and then says 'windows is already activated' and
sends
me back to the login screen!

To be honest I dont fancy spending a single penny on more microsoft
software.

Is there a UK complaints department/procedure??

Thanks

Hi,

The easiest solution is to buy another hard drive and install your new copy
to on to it after moving your current hard drive to a secondary connector
(don't forget to change the jumper to slave), then you can access all of
your files and delete the old windows once everything is ok.

Andy

 

[STUART ESSOM]

Thanks Andrew

I've been thinking about this overnight.

The said PC has two hardrives as it is, C: and E:
E: has quite a bit of space on it.

Unfortunately C: has the copy of windows installed on it.

BUT.... if i made a clone/copy of the drive C:, and copied it onto E:, then
wiped C: completely and did a fresh install of windows on it...... do you
think this would work!?????

 

[neil]

You only really need to copy over the files you want to keep. Not forgetting
to make a copy of your emails & any favourites you might want. So if you
keep all YOUR data under the "my documents" folder then copy that over to
the second drive. You may want to look a "take ownership" before you wipe
the C:\ drive as you might need to use this when trying to access the old
files using the new installation. (just depends if you are using NTFS format
on your drives)
If you were to make a clone copy of the drive then you may need a program to
read that clone (if it's an image) on the second drive to find your old
files. Also remember to have the install programs for those you had setup on
the original drive.
If the copy of XP you have bought is the full OEM version then you should be
able to install this using the format option, just to be safe unplug the
second drive during the installation.

best of luck

Neil

 

[STUART ESSOM]

thanks everyone for your help.

neil, i think i'm gonna do what you suggest. I have already started copying
my files over.

Few questions though:

1. How do you copy emails over?? Where are they kept?? I use outlook
express.

2. I have microsoft office 98, which I want to keep as i dont really like
the updated versions.... I especially want to keep Word and Excell, but dont
have the disc anymore. Is there anyway I can copy them over??? I suppose not
but theres no harm asking.

3. Neil, my C: is in Fat32 and drive E: (where im copying files to) is in
NTSF!
Forgive my ignorance but where and what is "take ownership"??? Where do i
find it??

thanks guys

 

[neil]

Hi,
For backing up outlook express this looks about right
http://www.iopus.com/guides/oe-backup.htm. Just to make sure you can see the
data files referred to you may need to view hidden files & folders.

You should be able to look at "take ownership" using windows help & support,
but if you use www.google.com and type in "take ownership" you'll get the
info.

I'm afraid you'll need the original setup disks for re-install office, I'm
surprised you've not had problems using office 98 on XP I've read quite a
few questions on this newsgroup.

If you're not sure of anything you can always post back and let us know
what's happening.
Neil

 

[FeMaster]

What version of Windows do you have? Is it Pro or Home... Also, if I read
correctly you indicated that you CAN log in using Safe Mode? If so, you may
be able to change a key in your registry to DEACTIVATE your copy of Windows,
which SHOULD allow you to proceed past the window that states that you need
to activate, yet getting stuck because your copy already is activated... If
all works, you should get the opportunity to activate it again, hopefully
from there all will be well...