Resetting OS on Windows XP Professional

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How do I reset the OS on my system? I do not have a disk as I bought the
computer second hand. Also when I try to update my computer, it tries to
validate and says: Validation Failure: Product Key Failed Validation...

Does anyone know what is wrong?

miggols99
 
You'll need to go out and purchase a "Full Version"
of Windows XP and proceed with a "Clean Install".
Apparently, you have a non-genuine, bogus version
of Windows XP installed.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| How do I reset the OS on my system? I do not have a disk as I bought the
| computer second hand. Also when I try to update my computer, it tries to
| validate and says: Validation Failure: Product Key Failed Validation...
|
| Does anyone know what is wrong?
|
| miggols99
 
miggols99 said:
How do I reset the OS on my system? I do not have a disk as I bought the
computer second hand.
Click to expand...


Then you'll need to purchase a license of your own to use on that
computer. You'll get a CD with the new license.

After backing up or copying any important personal data files to a
CD or other removable storage media, simply boot from the WinXP
installation CD. You'll be offered the opportunity to delete, create,
and format partitions as part of the installation process. (You may need
to re-arrange the order of boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from
the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Also when I try to update my computer, it tries to
validate and says: Validation Failure: Product Key Failed Validation...

Does anyone know what is wrong?
Click to expand...

Could be nearly anything, as the validation process is deeply flawed.
However, as the seller failed to provide you with the installation CD,
there's a fair chance that you have a pirated copy of WinXP.

With second-hand computers, especially if acquired from strangers
but perhaps even if acquired from a family member, your wisest course of
action would unquestionably be to format the hard drives and start
fresh. You don't want to get in trouble because the original owner may
have filled the hard drive with kiddie porn, or have problems because
the original owner downloaded/installed viruses or other malware.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry
 
Carey said:
You'll need to go out and purchase a "Full Version"
of Windows XP and proceed with a "Clean Install".
Apparently, you have a non-genuine, bogus version
of Windows XP installed.
Click to expand...

Here we go again...

Come on Carey, you _know_ a generic OEM is much cheaper and will do the
job. And don't give me that junk about the benefits of "Full Retail"
over OEM installs. The OP has _one_ PC and a generic OEM will do exactly
what he/she needs.

You need to go out and purchase more Microsoft stock, Carey. Being an
MVP does not mandate that you must promote their sales like you do.
Besides, you aren't even a very good salesman and they don't need your
"help" anyway.

;)

Steve N.
 
As far as I know you can't just reset your OS. It probably says "validation
failed" because the genuis who sold you the computer w/o the OS CD is
probably using the same OS with the same product key on another system. I
recommend purchasing an operating system CD. I don't know what OS you have,
but I assume you have XP because of the product validations, though I could
be wrong. Another recommendation, is purchasing Win XP Professional, even if
you are just a home user. This is because there are more intricate security
measures in Professional than Home which will help to protect your computer
from hackers and viruses. If you have any more questions about why I think
you should have Pro, email me at (e-mail address removed) (be
sure to delete NOSPAM from the email address).

-Christopher Isherwood
 
Steve said:
Here we go again...

Come on Carey, you _know_ a generic OEM is much cheaper and will do the
job. And don't give me that junk about the benefits of "Full Retail"
over OEM installs. The OP has _one_ PC and a generic OEM will do exactly
what he/she needs.

You need to go out and purchase more Microsoft stock, Carey. Being an
MVP does not mandate that you must promote their sales like you do.
Besides, you aren't even a very good salesman and they don't need your
"help" anyway.

;)

Steve N.
Click to expand...

Carey's improving...I did not see the words "full retail"...
just "full". It could apply to the MS "generic" version.
 
Steve said:
Here we go again...

Come on Carey, you _know_ a generic OEM is much cheaper and will do the
job. And don't give me that junk about the benefits of "Full Retail"
over OEM installs. The OP has _one_ PC and a generic OEM will do exactly
what he/she needs.
Click to expand...


Steve, read it again. Carey didn't advise the purchase of a retail
license. He, quite correctly, specified only a "full" version, and left
it up to the OP as to whether the full version so purchased be OEM or
retail.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry
 
Bruce said:
Steve, read it again. Carey didn't advise the purchase of a retail
license. He, quite correctly, specified only a "full" version, and
left it up to the OP as to whether the full version so purchased be
OEM or retail.
Click to expand...


I can't tell you what Carey means when he says "Full," but I can tell you
that I use the term "Full" to refer to retail versions only. I call the OEM
version just "OEM." Although not everyone uses these terms the way I do, I
know many others who do.
 
I can't tell you what Carey means when he says "Full," but I can tell you
that I use the term "Full" to refer to retail versions only. I call the OEM
version just "OEM." Although not everyone uses these terms the way I do, I
know many others who do.
Click to expand...


And I've always thought of (and heard of "Full") as being a version
capable of doing a clean installation, by itself, as opposed to an
Upgrade version, which requires the existence (either installed or on
disk) of a qualifying product. To me, and every other IT professional I
know, an OEM license is a "Full" version, albeit limited in terms of
licensing.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry
 
Bruce said:
And I've always thought of (and heard of "Full") as being a version
capable of doing a clean installation, by itself, as opposed to an
Upgrade version, which requires the existence (either installed or on
disk) of a qualifying product. To me, and every other IT
professional I know, an OEM license is a "Full" version, albeit
limited in terms of licensing.
Click to expand...


Understood that you use the term that way. I know many who do also. But not
I and not many others.

To me, an OEM version is a full version (no capital on "full"), but not a
Full version (this time capitalized; a version *called* "Full"). It's sort
of like being able to do an upgrade (no capital) with the Full version, but
that doesn't make it an Upgrade (with a capital) version.

I'm not arguing that my way is better than yours. Although my personal
preferences are clear, the only point I wanted to make is that there is not
unanimity in the way the terms are used.
 
Bruce said:
Steve, read it again. Carey didn't advise the purchase of a retail
license. He, quite correctly, specified only a "full" version, and left
it up to the OP as to whether the full version so purchased be OEM or
retail.
Click to expand...

He almost _always_ recommends purchasing a full retail version of XP
when an OEM version would do and you know it. If he meant "OEM" he would
have said so.

Steve N.
 
Bruce Chambers wrote:





I can't tell you what Carey means when he says "Full," but I can tell you
that I use the term "Full" to refer to retail versions only. I call the OEM
version just "OEM." Although not everyone uses these terms the way I do, I
know many others who do.
Click to expand...

I don't know what else it could mean. "Full" means full; retail,
wholesale, onsale, whateversale. We all know what Carey meant.

Steve N.
 
Understood that you use the term that way. I know many who do also. But not
I and not many others.

To me, an OEM version is a full version (no capital on "full"), but not a
Full version (this time capitalized; a version *called* "Full"). It's sort
of like being able to do an upgrade (no capital) with the Full version, but
that doesn't make it an Upgrade (with a capital) version.
Click to expand...


That's an understandable point of view. I can see how some of the
OEM's limitations might well keep others from considering it a "full"
version (capitalized or not), but I hadn't (until now) looked at it that
way.

I'm not arguing that my way is better than yours. Although my personal
preferences are clear, the only point I wanted to make is that there is not
unanimity in the way the terms are used.
Click to expand...


That, you've accomplished.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry
 
Bruce said:
That's an understandable point of view. I can see how some of the
OEM's limitations might well keep others from considering it a "full"
version (capitalized or not), but I hadn't (until now) looked at it
that way.




That, you've accomplished.
Click to expand...


Thanks for understanding.
 
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