Windows XP: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again
- 2/20/09 2:27 PM
Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 2/20/09 2:27 PM
Question:
Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again
I purchased a PC about 1 year ago from a guy off of Craigslist, and he did not tell me that the Windows XP version he loaded on the computer was not legal. Currently I cannot receive plug-ins, updates, and many other things do not work properly now.
Is there any recourse on this, as I would like make my system legitimate? What are my options? Can I buy a legal version of XP and have it installed, or purchase Vista and install it? What’s involved if I install a legit version of Windows, are particular process? I have 2GB of RAM on this machine. Also, if I buy the XP software to install, does it have to be the same as the existing version on the computer? The version I have is XP Pro and I have no disk. Thanks!
--Submitted by Gary H.
Here are some featured member answers to get you started, but
please read up on all the advice and suggestions that our
members have contributed to this member's question.
Options to obtain a legal Windows licence --Submitted by kaveets
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=330197&messageID=2979084#2979084
Welcome to the wonderful world of piracy.... --Submitted by Watzman
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=330197&messageID=2978901#2978901
Illegitimate XP system --Submitted by Zouch
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=330197&messageID=2978951#2978951
Windows XP NOT GENUINE --Submitted by waytron
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=330197&messageID=2979132#2979132
The right solution is the ONLY solution --Submitted by bobusingbol
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=330197&messageID=2979067#2979067
If you have any additional solution or recommendations for Gary, click on the reply link and submit your answer. Please be as detailed as possible when providing your answer. Oh and please keep the answers legal... Thanks!
Microsoft may give you a genuine version free
by Slikkster - 2/13/09 3:29 PM In reply to: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Microsoft has a very aggressive anti-piracy program. They know many people have been victimized by fraudulent copies of Windows products.
They do have a program whereby you can turn in a counterfeit disc, with a report, and obtain a legitimate license. Normally they do require an actual disc, but they will also make exceptions for those who were swindled with pre-installed versions.
Read the FAQ here:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/FAQ.aspx?displaylang=en#ID0ERIAC
It has all the info about the program. The answer for you with your pre-installed bogus copy can be found in the "Requirements and limitations of the genuine Windows offer" section.
If you have to buy your own version
by Slikkster - 2/13/09 3:51 PM In reply to: Microsoft may give you a genuine version free by SlikksterMicrosoft also has a Product Key update tool here:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/XPPkuinst.aspx?displaylang=en&sGuid=1bcb45de-8b18-46cc-9a01-0d8d5c92c1f3
eula
by puma - 2/20/09 5:59 PM In reply to: Microsoft may give you a genuine version free by Slikksteraccording to the eula (end user license agreement), when you transfer a computer to another party, the person is expected to purchase a new copy of windows. microsoft must do this as their business model is starting to retract and they are concerned about their shrinking market share...
Beware of eBay vendors
by kidizi - 2/21/09 1:24 AM In reply to: Microsoft may give you a genuine version free by SlikksterBeware of eBay vendors selling laptops with "legal" XP pre-installed. I purchased a laptop from a vendor on eBay - he sells lots of them. I did not have time to do anything with the laptop until it was too late to take action against the vendor - the laptop had been purchased from a business and required a key to update XP. Not having a key, I took a closer look - no COA, either.
I contacted eBay, but the time to take action had elapsed; the vendor basically told me to go screw myself - there was nothing I could do.
I did contact Microsoft with all of the specifics, but this guy is still happily selling his merchandise.
UNREGISTERED WINDOWS XP ON PURCHASED COMPUTER
by nutroxx - 2/13/09 5:28 PM In reply to: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
BUY A WINDOWS XP FROM EBAY AND INSTALL IT! IT WILL DO WELL! YOU MAY HAVE TO REENTER YOUR CODE IF YOU HAVE NORTON, BUT OTHERWISE ALL WILL GO WELL FOR YOU! JERRY
Bought XP Thru Amazon
by Shirley97128 - 2/21/09 1:28 AM In reply to: UNREGISTERED WINDOWS XP ON PURCHASED COMPUTER by nutroxxI bought mine thru Amazon, have the disc, have the seal, have the key code, then 2 years later, all of a sudden I get the message on my screen that I dont have a legitimate copy of windows xp. I have heard this from others too, what a headache.
Just call Microsoft
by tinman1275 - 2/13/09 5:29 PM In reply to: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
In my past experience I have had great luck just calling them and explaining the situation. I have done it for many clients and have always found them quite helpful, sometimes they have charged a small fee for a legitimate key code, sometimes just given me one.
I hope the other suggestions work
by clamenza - 2/13/09 5:36 PM In reply to: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
because I suspect if you have to buy a legit copy of the OS, it'll approach the cost of a nice albeit low-end PC with factory-installed XP/Vista.
You can install XP atop itself, usually
by Ngallendou - 2/13/09 5:50 PM In reply to: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Friends and I who have used XP since its appearance have had occasion to install it again and again. So doing conserves one's installed software and data files by over-writing only XP's own system files. To do so, insert an XP installation CD-ROM, log to it and execute Setup.exe. Unless the installer detects some serious hard drive problems, everything should go well. Afterwards, XP will seek to update itself and download security patches from then Microsoft site. If the installer objects to the existing installation, it will say so. If it offers to partition and format your HD and you allow it to do so, then it will destroy all your files, forever.
Making XP Legal
by swreynolds - 2/13/09 5:55 PM In reply to: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you have a brand name PC (HP, Dell, Gateway, etc) you may be able to get a recovery disk from the manufacturer (for a small fee). This will give you a legal version.
If not, you can get a CD (or just a Product Key) from Microsoft. The last time I checked it was $149.
You can upgrade to Vista, but not many people like it. You say you have 2GB of RAM, Vista will run, but will not be speedy with only 2GB. The only time I was happy with Vista's speed was when I gave it a Quad core and 4GB RAM.
With Windows 7 just around the corner, you might want to wait it out.
2Gb is fine
by darrenforster99 - 2/21/09 12:23 AM In reply to: Making XP Legal by swreynolds[quote]You can upgrade to Vista, but not many people like it. You say you have 2GB of RAM, Vista will run, but will not be speedy with only 2GB.[/quote]
Vista will run fine with 2Gb of memory, the speed of Vista depends on a lot of things, a lot more than just memory.
I currently run Vista 64-bit and it runs far more faster than XP ever did. I only have 2Gb of memory, the most important thing is to try and unload a lot of the processors work onto other specialized processors that are designed to do that type of work.
Possibly the biggest hindrance for a processor is graphics and sound work, in my computer I have an ATI Radeon HD4550 which takes most of the 3D work away from the processor and uses it's own dedicated 3D chipset, if you are using onboard graphics you are likely to get severe degraded performance from Vista as most onboard graphics don't come with any type of 3D accelerator (or a very basic one that shares system RAM - again another major hindrance, my graphics card has 512Mb DDR3 RAM that is dedicated 100% to video, no sharing), so all the 3D work for the Aero interface is left to the main CPU.
For sound I have a Creative Labs Soundblaster X-Fi, again this has a dedicated sound controller that takes all the sound work off the CPU, and because the processor is designed primarly for sound it does it really fast. This is the same thing that made things like the Amiga and the Mac really fast, they also have dedicated chipsets specifically for sound and graphics, taking quite a lot of load off the CPU. My main CPU is an AMD 64 x2 5000 and only has 2Gb of RAM and runs so fast.
I currently run Windows Vista Home Premium.
It was never legit to begin with.
by computerlegalexperts.com - 2/13/09 5:59 PM In reply to: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Okay, now that you "busted", what are your options?
1. Do nothing and suffer.
2. Buy a copy of XP in either a Microsoft shrink-wrap or an OEM package and re-install / repair.
3. Go to Circuit City, a computer store or a business entity that is having a "Fire-Sale" and buy one there. (Look for the hologram)
4. Go to your bookstore at college and see if they have a copy for sale.
5. Call Microsoft sales and buy a license over the telephone.
I strongly recommend option 2. Think about all of the time you've wasted, screwing around and monetize it. People deserve to get paid for the work they do. Pay the costs for the license.
Yep...
by gestault - 2/20/09 6:26 PM In reply to: It was never legit to begin with. by computerlegalexperts.comBe careful about pricing-do some legwork(surfwork)...if buying from a site that doesn't have a brick and mortar presence out there-try Microcenter or Microcenter.com...it' OEM XP Home disk is only $99-shipping is more if you don't live near one...cheapest I've seen for a real store...I'd love to hear about any lower prices!!
XP Pro Prices
by TominMass - 2/20/09 6:36 PM In reply to: Yep... by gestault... and don't forget to check out Circuit City for a possible deal.
I was in my local store today and I believe XP Pro was around $120. That price should drop when they increase discounts this Sunday.
Also, if you need Office 2007, I saw that for $100 or $120, and the Student/Teacher edition was $75. (I'm holding out for $50. I have Office S&T 2003, but would like to upgrade, inexpensively, of course)
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