Windows XP question

[John Brown]

A mate (v. wrongly!) uses a pirated copy of Windows XP. Because he can't
receive updates - keeps getting a Validate your Windows message ...and due
to his guilty conscience has decided to go legitimate.
How does he do this?
Presumably purchase a legit copy of Windows and install.
Q1. Will a simple OEM Windows XP package be ok?
Q2. Where best to purchase this from for simplicity and cheapness (he's in
UK)?. Is eBay ok for such a purchase?
Q3. And then will it be safe just to install the pukka XP copy over/on top
of the existing illegal Windows XP software?
Cheers.

 

[Compfix]

A mate (v. wrongly!) uses a pirated copy of Windows XP. Because he can't
receive updates - keeps getting a Validate your Windows message ...and due
to his guilty conscience has decided to go legitimate.
How does he do this?
Presumably purchase a legit copy of Windows and install.
Q1. Will a simple OEM Windows XP package be ok?
Q2. Where best to purchase this from for simplicity and cheapness (he's in
UK)?. Is eBay ok for such a purchase?
Q3. And then will it be safe just to install the pukka XP copy over/on top
of the existing illegal Windows XP software?
Cheers.

OEM windows will be OK, check out EBUYER, they sell system builder
software-he may have to buy some hardware to qualify. Do NOT get software
from EBAY imho most of it is pirate/knock off.

Personally I would vape the hard disk and do a fresh install with the new
OS. That way the PC starts 'clean' and you can setup your AV and anti
spyware programs, then go to windows update first. Make sure he has all
the drivers and backup all the data files first of course

Hope this helps

Bob

 

[John Brown]

Thanks Bob - v useful - I'll pass it on. Cheers.

OEM windows will be OK, check out EBUYER, they sell system builder
software-he may have to buy some hardware to qualify. Do NOT get software
from EBAY imho most of it is pirate/knock off.

Personally I would vape the hard disk and do a fresh install with the new
OS. That way the PC starts 'clean' and you can setup your AV and anti
spyware programs, then go to windows update first. Make sure he has all
the drivers and backup all the data files first of course

Hope this helps

Bob

 

[32andtwentyseven]

OEM windows will be OK, check out EBUYER, they sell system builder
software-he may have to buy some hardware to qualify. Do NOT get software
from EBAY imho most of it is pirate/knock off.

That is not necessarily true. You can buy genuine software on eBay,
you just need to use common sense. Some of it is pirate, some of it
isn't. For Windows XP OEM, the cheapest way to get it is through an
online retailer anyway (like ebuyer or Amazon).

 

[DaveBl]

A mate (v. wrongly!) uses a pirated copy of Windows XP. Because he can't
receive updates - keeps getting a Validate your Windows message ...and due
to his guilty conscience has decided to go legitimate.
How does he do this?
Presumably purchase a legit copy of Windows and install.
Q1. Will a simple OEM Windows XP package be ok?
Q2. Where best to purchase this from for simplicity and cheapness (he's in
UK)?. Is eBay ok for such a purchase?
Q3. And then will it be safe just to install the pukka XP copy over/on top
of the existing illegal Windows XP software?
Cheers.


On the page that telly that authentication has fails theres a link with the
option to
buy a current serial number direct from Microsoft for I believe 149.00
Dave

 

[32andtwentyseven]

A mate (v. wrongly!) uses a pirated copy of Windows XP. Because he can't
receive updates - keeps getting a Validate your Windows message ...and due
to his guilty conscience has decided to go legitimate.
How does he do this?
Presumably purchase a legit copy of Windows and install.
Q1. Will a simple OEM Windows XP package be ok?
Q2. Where best to purchase this from for simplicity and cheapness (he's in
UK)?. Is eBay ok for such a purchase?
Q3. And then will it be safe just to install the pukka XP copy over/on top
of the existing illegal Windows XP software?
Cheers.

On the page that telly that authentication has fails theres a link with the
option to
buy a current serial number direct from Microsoft for I believe 149.00
Dave

Well in England it is cheaper to buy a new OEM copy of XP rather than
go to M$ for a serial. Not sure about North America, but I wouldn't be
surprised it's the same.

 

[sdlomi2]

A mate (v. wrongly!) uses a pirated copy of Windows XP. Because he can't
receive updates - keeps getting a Validate your Windows message ...and due
to his guilty conscience has decided to go legitimate.
How does he do this?
Presumably purchase a legit copy of Windows and install.
Q1. Will a simple OEM Windows XP package be ok?
Q2. Where best to purchase this from for simplicity and cheapness (he's in
UK)?. Is eBay ok for such a purchase?
Q3. And then will it be safe just to install the pukka XP copy over/on top
of the existing illegal Windows XP software?
Cheers.

A high school teacher bought an academic upgrade XP Pro & I installed it
right on top of her illeg. XP Pro w/o any problem at all--just entered her
new key number when it mentioned 'not a genuine'.....I had ready her legal
98SE disc to insert when such an install mentions non-genuine, but didn't
have to use it; in the past, IIRC, I have needed such a legal 98 disc to
make M$ happy when installing an OEM upgrade atop an illegit Pro. HTH, s

 

[Peter]

A mate (v. wrongly!) uses a pirated copy of Windows XP. Because he can't
receive updates - keeps getting a Validate your Windows message ...and due
to his guilty conscience has decided to go legitimate.
How does he do this?
Presumably purchase a legit copy of Windows and install.
Q1. Will a simple OEM Windows XP package be ok?
Q2. Where best to purchase this from for simplicity and cheapness (he's in
UK)?. Is eBay ok for such a purchase?
Q3. And then will it be safe just to install the pukka XP copy over/on top
of the existing illegal Windows XP software?
Cheers.

Rather than do a complete re-install, if you want to quickly update your
CD Key there are programs out there that can do that from within XP
itself. I believe, once changed, WGA should pick up that you now have a
valid key. If not, then all you need to do is validate your new XP CD
Key via Windows online validation.

viewkeyxp was one such program or keyfinder may be another.