Upgrade from illegal copy

[bjk]

Friends computer has illegal copy of XP/Pro. I Want to
replace with legal copy using ugrade versus full install.
Can I reinstall 98 and then do the upgrade, or do I bite
the bullet and just buy the full install?

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, bjk.

Who knows what is in that illegal copy? If somebody butchered it in one
way, it may well have been butchered in other ways, too. ;>(

Assuming it is OK otherwise, though, you should be able to follow
Microsoft's instructions for an "in-place upgrade" from the illegal copy
using an upgrade version of the WinXP CD-ROM. Don't reinstall Win98, but
have that CD-ROM handy. When WinXP Setup asks to verify that your friend
qualifies for the upgrade, just put that CD in the drive momentarily. See
this KB article:
How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

The in-place upgrade will take as long as a clean install of WinXP, but it
should preserve your friend's installed applications and data. As soon as
you get the antivirus and firewall back in place, go to Windows Update and
get SP1 (if it's not already on the WinXP CD) and later updates (to protect
that computer from Blaster and other worms and viruses). Be prepared for a
long download/install; even with broadband it took me an hour for SP1 and
another hour for the other fixes the last time I did this. Better set aside
half a day for the whole project.

The new installation should be activated automatically, using the Internet,
and your friend may also want to register it, but registration is optional.

RC

 

[D.Currie]

Friends computer has illegal copy of XP/Pro. I Want to
replace with legal copy using ugrade versus full install.
Can I reinstall 98 and then do the upgrade, or do I bite
the bullet and just buy the full install?

You can install 98 and upgrade that, but to install 98, you'll have to wipe
the drive and lose everything. Actually, you don't have to install 98, but
you'd need it on hand to verify the upgrade.

On the other hand, if he doesn't want to start over, the full version of Pro
is the way to go. More expensive, but I guess it depends on what time is
worth, and how much time it's going to take to get everything back to the
beginning again.

 

[Phil \(purplehaz\)]

1) Run regedit and go to:
HKey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents
In the right pane double click on "oobetimer" and change at least one
digit of this value

(ie: change hex "CA" to "AC"). This will deactivate windows.
Exit regedit.

2) Choose run from the start menu and type in this command
c:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a

3) Choose activate by phone.

4) Choose Change Product Key.

5) Type in the new product key.
CLICK UPDATE

6) Now reboot.

7) After reboot, re-enter command from step 2 to verify activation.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Friends computer has illegal copy of XP/Pro. I Want to
replace with legal copy using ugrade versus full install.
Can I reinstall 98 and then do the upgrade, or do I bite
the bullet and just buy the full install?

You do not need to buy the 'full' version.

If you have a proper 98 CD you can do a clean install with an XP Upgrade
CD and show it that 98 CD when it asks where Windows is. Boot the XP CD
direct. Enter Setup, and after the license agreement take New Install.
When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC; select and delete the
current partition and make a new RAW one to be formatted at the next
stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one

When asked where windows is, swap the CD for the 98 one, putting the XP
one back on a blue screen asking for a CD.

If it is an OEM 'restore' Win98 CD (without a win98 folder of .cab
files), you will have to restore with that in the first instance. You
can then either run the XP CD from it, enter install and continue with
Upgrade, or change Upgrade to New Install and follow the same
ESC/delete/make new as above. By that time the check for eligibility
has been made