Windows xp licence question

[ilyas]

Hi all

I have purchased a laptop with windows xp. However it doesnt have a
genuine version of windows xp (according to microsofts site) and the
owner doesnt have any certificate either.

My question is that can I simply buy a licence from microsoft and have
it work - or will I have to reinstall windows and lose all of my
applications and data - something that im not exactly over the moon
with?

Has anyone actually tried this?

Many thanks

 

[AJR]

Actually it may work out for you. At the Microsoft site you had the option
to "legitimize" the software - select the option. Have your credit card
ready - Microsoft will charge you $159 for which they will send you a full
version of XP Pro (Usually $194 in retail stores). Now the good part - in
addition you will receive via E-mail a product key which will validate the
bogus XP installation. Effect is that you now have two "genuine" XP
products.

BTW - If you do so - when you receive the XP CD in the mail - the product
key for the CD is on a small tab attached to the invoice - do not toss!!