Validation Not Completed: Invalid Product Key

[Ringbolt]

Since an automatic update to XP yesterday, my system is showing messages to
say that my XP is not valid.

I think I know what has happened - I bought the computer from a reputable
dealer (PC World) with XP Home Edition installed and an OEM disk. Some time
later, I had a hard drive error and had to replace it. I was unable to
install the OS onto the new hard disk with the OEM CD, so on the advice of a
friend, I borrowed his XP Professional disk, installed that, then overwrote
it with my OEM CD to get me back to Home Edition. It's been working fine for
about 18 Months since that (and I even carried out a process some months ago
to register my XP with Microsoft). Then yesterday, this problem.

Any idea if it is possible for me to re-enter the correct product ID (which
is on the sticker on the side of my base unit)? If so, how's it done?

 

[Conor]

Since an automatic update to XP yesterday, my system is showing messages to
say that my XP is not valid.

I think I know what has happened - I bought the computer from a reputable
dealer (PC World) with XP Home Edition installed and an OEM disk. Some time
later, I had a hard drive error and had to replace it. I was unable to
install the OS onto the new hard disk with the OEM CD, so on the advice of a
friend, I borrowed his XP Professional disk, installed that, then overwrote
it with my OEM CD to get me back to Home Edition. It's been working fine for
about 18 Months since that (and I even carried out a process some months ago
to register my XP with Microsoft). Then yesterday, this problem.

Any idea if it is possible for me to re-enter the correct product ID (which
is on the sticker on the side of my base unit)? If so, how's it done?

Plenty of freeware XP CD Key changers out there.


--
Conor

I'm really a nice guy. If I had friends, they would tell you.

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[AJR]

One quick try - go to control panel and remove the update.