Pirated to legitimate conversion

[Honest Bob]

Hi all,

I am pretty naive/useless when it comes to computing, but
have been rapidly schooling myself up and learning heaps
as I've discovered all the nifty things I can do with my
PC.

Anyway - my current PC is an 'upgraded' old box, (now with
an AMD 2000XP chip, 512mg RAM, 80G hard-drive). I asked my
friend (a techno whiz) to build the PC for me, and
buy/install a list of programs for me (including WinXP).

As I have learned more - I now realize that to save $$$,
he actually installed a PIRATED copy of Windows XP on my
computer. Aside from the fact that I know this is illegal -
I am keen to remedy this situation so that I can safely
get support from Microsoft if anything goes wrong, etc.

BUT - I am worried that if I buy a "real" copy of XP, I'll
lose all the stuff on my PC when XP is installed.

Can I buy a copy of XP, install it onto my computer,
and 'live happily ever after'?? Or am I doomed to losing a
heap of stuff on my PC if I do the right thing....

Thanks in anticipation,
"Honest Bob"...

 

[Kelly]

Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q315341

 

[sammy]

BACKUP your most important stuff.

After "going to church and confessing illegality",

INSTALL the "reborn" new XP and
RESTORE BACKUP.

your sins are forgiven. You will live happily ever after.

cheers.

 

[Greg R]

Are you sure it illegal. Check out the key fix
http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/key.html

First.

Greg R

Hi all,

I am pretty naive/useless when it comes to computing, but
have been rapidly schooling myself up and learning heaps
as I've discovered all the nifty things I can do with my
PC.

Anyway - my current PC is an 'upgraded' old box, (now with
an AMD 2000XP chip, 512mg RAM, 80G hard-drive). I asked my
friend (a techno whiz) to build the PC for me, and
buy/install a list of programs for me (including WinXP).

As I have learned more - I now realize that to save $$$,
he actually installed a PIRATED copy of Windows XP on my
computer. Aside from the fact that I know this is illegal -
I am keen to remedy this situation so that I can safely
get support from Microsoft if anything goes wrong, etc.

BUT - I am worried that if I buy a "real" copy of XP, I'll
lose all the stuff on my PC when XP is installed.

Can I buy a copy of XP, install it onto my computer,
and 'live happily ever after'?? Or am I doomed to losing a
heap of stuff on my PC if I do the right thing....

Thanks in anticipation,
"Honest Bob"...

http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/

 

[Barry Watzman]

I've ran into this once before: A system has a bootleg copy of the
volume license version of XP Pro, and you want to get "legal" but you
don't want to have to reinstall everything.

In the previous case, we backed up the data to CD-R and did a complete
reinstall. It's a lot of work, but the data was saved. If the drive is
partitioned, it could be backed up onto another partition of the same
hard drive. You can save yourself some trouble by running the "Files
and Settings Transfer wizzard" before the "upgrade" to save the OS and
applications software settings (save the resulting file on a CD-R or
separate partition also).

Actually, I now think that there is an easier way, which is a repair
installation of XP. You start to do an install of [a legal copy of] XP
Pro to the same partition, it will find the existing [bootleg] version
and offer to "repair" it, which I think is really a "reinstallation
over" that retains the installed settings and software. I haven't
personally tried it, but I believe that it will work.

No matter what you do, however, be sure that you have a backup, because
there is always the chance of something going wrong during an OS install.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

If you are 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/gave you the
pirated software to the pertinent law enforcement agencies; you've
been defrauded.


Bruce Chambers
--
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