Why is it so difficullt?

[Bill and Teresa]

The person who built my computer put an unauthorised version of Windows
XP Professional on it.

I have a desire to become 'legitimate' so I went out to purchase a
genuine version of Windows XP
Professional.

It was a good job I checked the side of the box which stated that the
product was designed to *upgrade* from Win 98,
Win 2000, and ME. It said nothing about replacing an existing
(unauthorised) version of XP.

Because of this, I didn't buy it. I wasn't exactly enamored with the
possibility that during the install process I'd be told that I already
had an existing version of XP on machine, hence it couldn't proceed.

Is there a solution to my problem?

 

[Leythos]

The person who built my computer put an unauthorised version of Windows
XP Professional on it.

I have a desire to become 'legitimate' so I went out to purchase a
genuine version of Windows XP
Professional.

It was a good job I checked the side of the box which stated that the
product was designed to *upgrade* from Win 98,
Win 2000, and ME. It said nothing about replacing an existing
(unauthorised) version of XP.

Because of this, I didn't buy it. I wasn't exactly enamored with the
possibility that during the install process I'd be told that I already
had an existing version of XP on machine, hence it couldn't proceed.

Is there a solution to my problem?

Wipe and reinstall with the legit version.

 

[Peter Foldes]

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

 

[Peter Foldes]

You can take the new XP CD and reformat. You will then have a legal copy of XP on your computer. Go ahead and get it and do the above with no problems

 

[Jim]

The person who built my computer put an unauthorised version of Windows XP
Professional on it.

I have a desire to become 'legitimate' so I went out to purchase a genuine
version of Windows XP
Professional.

It was a good job I checked the side of the box which stated that the
product was designed to *upgrade* from Win 98,
Win 2000, and ME. It said nothing about replacing an existing
(unauthorised) version of XP.

Because of this, I didn't buy it. I wasn't exactly enamored with the
possibility that during the install process I'd be told that I already had
an existing version of XP on machine, hence it couldn't proceed.

Is there a solution to my problem?

Certainly. Don't buy the upgrade version.
Jim

 

[Plato]

The person who built my computer put an unauthorised version of Windows
XP Professional on it.

Is there a solution to my problem?

Buy a real CD. Wipe the drive. Install it. Done.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Do you really think that Microsoft is going to print on the side of the box
that in addition to upgrading legitimate versions of Windows you can upgrade
an illegal version too????? Give me a break.

Just do a Repair Install with it by following the instructions here for How
To Run A Repair Install http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

 

[Richard Urban]

Because you have an unauthorized version of Windows XP Professional on your
computer, it may be assumed that you did not upgrade from a previous version
of Windows that was eligible for upgrade.

Therefore, because you don't have the "previous" product, you must get the
Full Install version of Windows XP Professional - if you want to keep all
the present features. You also must perform a wipe/install of the operating
system, obliterating everything that is presently on your Windows partition.
All of your programs will have to be reinstalled, which is not a bad thing,
as many people end up installing far less a second time around. It gets rid
of the crap that you never really use.

If all of the features you presently have are not of great concern to you,
you may want to consider Windows XP Home - full install. Again, you will
have to perform a wipe/install to obliterate what you have now and reinstall
all of your programs.

Before doing any of the above make certain that you have the media to
reinstall all of your chosen programs, such as Office etc. Also, remember to
backup any important documents and information to a secure location.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[ANONYMOUS]

YES, If you buy the upgrade version and then also another CD for Win98
on Ebay. But make sure these copies on ebay don't contain a message
that "only to be distributed with new machines".

You could buy generic OEM versions with key and that should work. You
will find endless messages on this NG about OEM and whether it is legal
or not. I am simply bored with these and never read them any more!

Go for retail version as you can move to other machines if you get fed
up with your current one and also use it to upgrade to VISTA when it
comes out next year.

hth

 

[George Hester]

Bill the solution is to buy a Full Retail version of XP or use a Windows
98\ME\2000 CD-ROM when queried for the authorizing product. But you are
going to have to reinstall anyway. Installing a Windows XP over an
unauthorized version (namely a pirated copy) will not un-pirate it.

 

[Ted]

unauthorized version (namely a pirated copy) will not un-pirate it.

Have you tried it ?
A try will not hurt, if he buys the full version, install
Windows.
It is going to ask for CD key, then it is going ask to validate.
If validated OK, then go to Windows update at microsoft.com,
it will check it and see if it is legit.

 

[Guest]

Went through all the replies and found that only Harry Ohm really knew what
he was talking about. I agree with him You can go ahead and buy the disk and
run a repair installation using the upgrade.

When u run a repair installation , you would be asked for the product key
and you can then enter the new product key associated with the disk which you
plan to purchase.

This will not cause you to lose any data on the system.

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/installxpcdrepair/part1.htm

Note:
If the system has sp2 and the disk does not include sp2 (which I dont think
it would) we need to uninstall sp2 before running the repair.


For screen shots of Windows xp repair process:

 

[kurttrail]

The person who built my computer put an unauthorised version of
Windows XP Professional on it.

I have a desire to become 'legitimate' so I went out to purchase a
genuine version of Windows XP
Professional.

It was a good job I checked the side of the box which stated that the
product was designed to *upgrade* from Win 98,
Win 2000, and ME. It said nothing about replacing an existing
(unauthorised) version of XP.

Because of this, I didn't buy it. I wasn't exactly enamored with the
possibility that during the install process I'd be told that I already
had an existing version of XP on machine, hence it couldn't proceed.

Is there a solution to my problem?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Mucking around trying to become
"legitimate" may just screw up a working system.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Ron Sommer]

If the XP CD does not contain SP2, then create a slipstreamed CD.
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

 

[Nightowl]

Is there a solution to my problem?

Bill, get a Full version. Mine states on the box "For PCs with Windows
95 or earlier or PCs without Windows".

You can do a repair install with this, giving the new key when prompted.
There is *no* need to wipe your disk or lose any of your currently
installed programs.

 

[Nightowl]

But you are
going to have to reinstall anyway. Installing a Windows XP over an
unauthorized version (namely a pirated copy) will not un-pirate it.

That is completely untrue. I had a copy of XP that would not validate;
sent it to Microsoft, who eventually determined it was counterfeit.

I bought a full retail boxed version and did a repair install with it.
It worked fine, my computer is completely legal and validated and passes
WGA every time, as it should.

 

[Ted]

Did you try install over the illegal copy ?

That is completely untrue. I had a copy of XP that would not validate;
sent it to Microsoft, who eventually determined it was counterfeit.

I bought a full retail boxed version and did a repair install with it.
It worked fine, my computer is completely legal and validated and passes
WGA every time, as it should.

 

[Ted]

He will not be able to get updates.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Mucking around trying to become
"legitimate" may just screw up a working system.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Nightowl]

Hi Ted

Yes, I booted from the legitimate CD and ran a repair install. It worked
perfectly and I didn't lose any installed programs or data.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

The person who built my computer put an unauthorised version of Windows
XP Professional on it.

I have a desire to become 'legitimate' so I went out to purchase a
genuine version of Windows XP
Professional.

It was a good job I checked the side of the box which stated that the
product was designed to *upgrade* from Win 98,
Win 2000, and ME. It said nothing about replacing an existing
(unauthorised) version of XP.

That would be because you looked at the *Upgrade* version. You need to
purchase the full version. (Or have the installation media for an
earlier, qualifying OS readily at hand.)

Because of this, I didn't buy it. I wasn't exactly enamored with the
possibility that during the install process I'd be told that I already
had an existing version of XP on machine, hence it couldn't proceed.

Is there a solution to my problem?

You need to purchase and a _legitimate_ retail or OEM full license
of WinXP Pro to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation,
using the new CDs and Product Keys.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

You should also report whomever sold you this license to your local
law enforcement agencies; you've been defrauded.



--

Bruce Chambers

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