Works programs after installing real WinXP?

[Rolf Edberg]

Hi
I have a friend that has bought a used PC with Win XP on it, but it turns
out that it not a real version. He shall buy a real WinXP but he wonders if
all the programs already installed on the PC will work after installing a
real WinXP. What shall I tell him?
Rolf

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a friend that has bought a used PC with Win XP on it, but it
turns out that it not a real version. He shall buy a real WinXP but
he wonders if all the programs already installed on the PC will
work after installing a real WinXP. What shall I tell him?

Have them buy the legitimate license and use the following to change the
product key to the legitimate one:

The Genuine Advantage Product Key Update Tool is only valid for
users attempting to change their current non-genuine Product Key
to a genuine COA sticker or genuine Product Key - all without a
reinstall!

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi
I have a friend that has bought a used PC with Win XP on it, but it turns
out that it not a real version. He shall buy a real WinXP but he wonders if
all the programs already installed on the PC will work after installing a
real WinXP. What shall I tell him?

You should tell him the following:

If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it would
be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how the
computer has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly,
what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I
wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and problems,
possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend that anyone
else do either.

Yes, a clean reinstallation of means that all the programs will be
gone. They will have to be reinstalled too. Chances are he doesn't
have valid licenses for those either, and will also need to purchase
those.