WGA notification

  • Thread starter Thread starter Marvel
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Marvel

On one of my machines I have been getting ballons and messages that my
windows xp is pirated.
I have no idea what to do so I bought a copy of windows media center, can I
overlay that on my xp pro?
 
Marvel said:
On one of my machines I have been getting ballons and messages that my
windows xp is pirated.
I have no idea what to do so I bought a copy of windows media center, can I
overlay that on my xp pro?
Click to expand...


Windows XP Media Center edition is only available as an OEM version,
which is intended to be sold either preinstalled on a new computer
system, or as part of a package of components for a person who is
going to assemble their own computer.

Because it is an OEM version it is specifically designed not to
install as an upgrade over an existing version of Windows. So you
cannot just install it as an upgrade/overlay of your existing XP Pro.

You might repeat might be able to do a Repair Install of the XP Pro
using the XP Media Center edition CD as per the instructions at
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm but I am almost
certain that this will fail because of the version difference. Having
never tried it, however, I cannot say this for certain.

Your options at this point would appear to be:

1. Return the XP Media Center edition and exchange it for a copy of
XP Pro. Then do a Repair Install per the above link.

or

2. Use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard from the Media Center
CD to save your data files and configuration settings to another hard
drive partition, a removable backup device or a network drive. Next
reformat the hard drive and install the Media Center edition and
reinstall all your application programs. Then run FASTW again to
import the saved data.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
Ron Martell said:
Windows XP Media Center edition is only available as an OEM version,
which is intended to be sold either preinstalled on a new computer
system, or as part of a package of components for a person who is
going to assemble their own computer.

Because it is an OEM version it is specifically designed not to
install as an upgrade over an existing version of Windows. So you
cannot just install it as an upgrade/overlay of your existing XP Pro.

You might repeat might be able to do a Repair Install of the XP Pro
using the XP Media Center edition CD as per the instructions at
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm but I am almost
certain that this will fail because of the version difference. Having
never tried it, however, I cannot say this for certain.

Your options at this point would appear to be:

1. Return the XP Media Center edition and exchange it for a copy of
XP Pro. Then do a Repair Install per the above link.

or

2. Use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard from the Media Center
CD to save your data files and configuration settings to another hard
drive partition, a removable backup device or a network drive. Next
reformat the hard drive and install the Media Center edition and
reinstall all your application programs. Then run FASTW again to
import the saved data.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito.">>
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help.
I am tempted to try the repair install...
One more thing...
I want to keep the media center edition (I heard it was better for video or
something)
Can I use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard and save my files to my
laptop over the network then afterwards run FASTW?
Thank You,
Marvel
 
Jupiter Jones said:
First, have you verified that your installed Windows is in fact pirated?
Click to expand...
No I just read the ballon that said I may be a victim of pirating.
Next I followed the resolve now link and it took me to a page where I could
download an upgrade for 149.00. I bought this machine from a guy long ago
and have no disks and I couldn't find the name or location of the place.
Also I want to have media center edition to run through my entertainment
center.
 
No I just read the ballon that said I may be a victim of pirating.
Next I followed the resolve now link and it took me to a page where I could
download an upgrade for 149.00. I bought this machine from a guy long ago
and have no disks and I couldn't find the name or location of the place.
Also I want to have media center edition to run through my entertainment
center.
Click to expand...

Do you have a real Windows XP sticker with the certificate on the
computer anywhere?

If not, and you don't have any media with a COA, then you most likely,
about 99%, have a pirated copy of XP.

If using XP Prof, and OEM can sell you a media/license for about $140,
home edition for about $90.
 
Leythos said:
Do you have a real Windows XP sticker with the certificate on the
computer anywhere?

If not, and you don't have any media with a COA, then you most likely,
about 99%, have a pirated copy of XP.

If using XP Prof, and OEM can sell you a media/license for about $140,
home edition for about $90.
Click to expand...

Are you selling or recommending that the OP find an OEM?
 
Thanks for the help.
I am tempted to try the repair install...
One more thing...
I want to keep the media center edition (I heard it was better for video or
something)
Can I use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard and save my files to my
laptop over the network then afterwards run FASTW?
Thank You,
Marvel
Click to expand...

Yes. Best procedure would be to:

1. Create a folder named \Transfer on the laptop's hard drive and
tell FASTW to save the files in that folder. It will create another
folder inside that one for the actual data.

2. Use the copy of FASTW that is contained on the Media Center CD to
save the data rather than the version in your XP Pro in Accessories -
System Tools on the Start Menu. There are some differences between
FASTW in different versions of XP (probably due to Windows Update
status) and there can be problems in restoring the data if the version
used for the restore is not the same as the version used to save the
data.

3. When you have Media Center installed and are ready to run FASTW to
import the data point it to the \Transfer folder on the laptop. It
will find the subfolder and data files from there.

4. See the article by MVP Gary Woodruff at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm for more detailed advice and
tips.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
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