registration key/updates

[Kevin]

I was left a computer by my ex room mate to cover his
expenses incurred while living with me as payment for
past due rent. It has Windows XP Professional on it. The
updates wont load because the product key is wrong or
pirated or something. How do I go about getting a working
product key without buying a new version or paying
Microsoft $35 to ask a question. ALso would like to have
the Install Cd to install components that arent in use on
the computer and wont install without the cd.

 

[Jim Macklin]

Your dead-beat room-mate stuck you with a rent bill by
giving you a computer with stolen software. A $1,500
computer that is one week out of the store, with legal
software is worth 50% or $750, a month later it is a $300
item and a year later it is a door stop.

Your only choice is to buy a full retail Windows XP
Professional and perhaps new applications, since he probably
kept those too.

Consider it a lesson or call Judge Judy.


message | I was left a computer by my ex room mate to cover his
| expenses incurred while living with me as payment for
| past due rent. It has Windows XP Professional on it. The
| updates wont load because the product key is wrong or
| pirated or something. How do I go about getting a working
| product key without buying a new version or paying
| Microsoft $35 to ask a question. ALso would like to have
| the Install Cd to install components that arent in use on
| the computer and wont install without the cd.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I was left a computer by my ex room mate to cover his
expenses incurred while living with me as payment for
past due rent. It has Windows XP Professional on it. The
updates wont load because the product key is wrong or
pirated or something. How do I go about getting a working
product key without buying a new version or paying
Microsoft $35 to ask a question. ALso would like to have
the Install Cd to install components that arent in use on
the computer and wont install without the cd.

Am I missing something in your question? It seems obvious that if
you have a pirated copy, the only legal way to get a legal copy
is by buying it.

 

[Chen]

It's illegal to "get a working key" without buying it...

// Chen

 

[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
--
Help us help you:



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

 

[Alex Nichol]

I was left a computer by my ex room mate to cover his
expenses incurred while living with me as payment for
past due rent. It has Windows XP Professional on it. The
updates wont load because the product key is wrong or
pirated or something. How do I go about getting a working
product key without buying a new version

Bluntly - you don't. If it was pirated so MSoft did not get a penny,
then they will expect to be paid in full. A lot of copies have been put
out which have used one of a couple of pirated keys. MSoft has
explicitly prevented machines that were installed with these keys from
installing SP1. Check in Control Panel - System for the Product ID
number under your name - if it fits

XXXXX-640-0000356-23XXX
or
XXXXX-640-2001765-23XXX

Where X represents any digit, you have one of these keys.