iPhone 3GS from AT&T. Free Shipping
Windows XP: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again
- 2/20/09 2:27 PM
You won't qualify for the Genuine offer...
by brit0n - 2/21/09 8:15 AM In reply to: The right solution is the ONLY solution by bobusingbolTo qualify for free/cheap validation, you have to have either (a) bought the OS pre-installed on a new computer; or (b) have bought the OS on media which looks so like the real thing that it is understandable that you were taken in rather than just bought it knowing it was a pirate copy.
As far as I can see from the original poster's question, (a) hardly applies as this was a craigslist purchase - known for being cheap and cheerful but hardly ever expected by anyone to be genuine; and (b) doesn't apply at all as he doesn't have a disk let alone any packaging with fake laser labels on it.
Please stop giving clever and factual advice which only confuses because it could not possibly apply to the case in point!
How do you do the right thing, when you have a legal system
by shiloslim - 2/22/09 9:10 PM In reply to: The right solution is the ONLY solution by bobusingbolI just lost a mem chip in my laptop, crashed etc. Non=techie here. shop put data on disk, but can't do software. My re-install software disks (Toshiba, no Windows XP disk provided) totally erases my hardrive before it re-installs. So I am re-installing my printer install disk, etc. when Mr Softy informs me I have a 30-day ride on my windows OS. So I tried to register online, but it provided no place to input my legitimate product *keys*. I am flummoxed to find not one, but two keys on my laptop with the note : "One time choice only." Since W XP came pre-installed by Toshiba, whom I bot it from, I have no way to know which one they selected and which they did not.
Of course I walked into this mess because I know nothing about these matters. So can I call someone at MS, and give them my name and then both keys, and can they look it up and verify I have legitimate OS on board? Appreciate any experience you have had. I cannot believe MS does not ask for a key number when they gig me with that 30 day notice.
Yes you can telephone Microsoft
by MarkFlax - 2/23/09 2:02 AM
In reply to: How do you do the right thing, when you have a legal system by shiloslim
When that Activation message appears, there should be an option to telephone Microsoft, and they should supply a Toll-Free number to call.
Try that.
Mark
Welcome to the world of dodgy PC sellers...
by darrenforster99 - 2/14/09 12:22 AM In reply to: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Gary,
I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune when buying an illegal copy of Windows XP with the PC. It really annoys me when people put illegal copies of XP onto their PC's and then sell them. I am currently trying to do my own PC repair and building business and I get fed up by the amount of cowboys out there who undercut my prices by selling a PC with either an illegal copy of XP on it, or the "30-day" trial version. I'd much prefer to sell a PC with Linux on it rather than sell a PC with an illegal version of Windows on it.
Now your problem here though is your running Windows XP. As your running XP it is quite hard to get a legal copy of XP now as Microsoft are really pushing Vista and have stopped selling XP in most places.
Your best bet is that as you have 2Gb of RAM to go and get a legal copy of Vista.
Windows comes in two flavours - OEM and Retail. The OEM package is normally a lot cheaper than the retail package, but you must buy some kind of hardware with it.
OEM is probably the best option as for the OEM version your looking at about £80 and then about £30 for a cheap hard drive to make the sale legit. (Some places will sell it you without hardware, but this is against Microsofts terms and conditions).
With the retail package your probably going to spend somewhere between £200 and £300 depending on which Vista you get. As you can see even having to buy hardware with it you save greatly.
The only major difference between OEM and retail is the box and all the rubbish you get with it. With OEM you just get a white box with the genuine sticker on it and a disc inside, retail you get a colourful smart box, and the sticker and disc inside and a small getting started booklet. Also the OEM version is far more environmentally friendly.
The most important thing is to ensure you get a genuine Windows licence sticker with any copy of Windows you buy, wherever you buy it from. This is your guarantee that you own a legal copy of the software. Beware from buying this on things like eBay there are a lot of people selling pirate versions of Vista and XP on eBay and once you've bought it usually there is no comeback. Your safest bet is to buy it from somewhere genuine like Scan computers (www.scan.co.uk).
Now as for installing... chances are regardless of which version of Windows you get you will need to re-install the system. The version of XP you currently have on there will probably be a pirated hacked copy and could have anything else inside it, such as trojans or viruses.
The best way to do this is to start a fresh. Firstly backup any important data that you've put onto the system. Put the new Windows disc in the drive and reboot the system. If the system is set up correct you should see a message saying "Press any key to boot from CD..." At this point press a key.
Start going through the install process for Windows. When it gets to the question about partitioning your hard drive ensure you delete ALL existing partitions. In Vista this is done with a graphical user interface and is quite simple, in XP you need to select the existing partition and press a combination of D, L and enter to remove it (the key to press is on the bottom on each screen).
Once you get to a stage that all the hard drive is shown up as "Unpartitioned space", then begin installation of Windows.
Once you've re-installed Windows you should now have a genuine copy of Windows all installed and ready to go, and have removed the pirate copy of XP. Now just attach the sticker to the side of the computer so everyone knows you are running a legal copy of Vista.
Getting a legal product key for XP
by TripodGal - 2/22/09 1:43 AM In reply to: Welcome to the world of dodgy PC sellers... by darrenforster99Back in the fall of 2007, I bought a refurbished IBM Thinkpad from a laptop repair dealer. I was told the laptop was internet ready, and when I got it home I realized that the Windows XP Pro was not registered, and it was the intial version with NO updates. I also discovered it had no antivirus/anti-adware protection, and no firewall other than Windows firewall. I bought it on a Saturday afternoon, and by the time I realized all of this, the business was closed. I had to have the laptop going by Monday morning for business.
First of all, I downloaded AVG and ZoneAlarm (free versions) and installed them right away. Then I ran scans to make sure I didn't pick up anything while on the net. Everything was fine. Then I did a Google search for software to find out what the activation key was for my Windows XP Pro. I found "Magic Jellybean" and installed it. It did find the key assigned for that version of XP, but it was a version of XP that was originally licensed to DELL (yeah, at this point I was getting pissed-off). Not only that, but that license had been used so many times, that the key would not work any more. I got a pop-up window instructing me to contact Microsoft to request a new key. So, I did some searching on the Microsoft site, and found a contact number to call them about acquiring a product key. By this time, it was Sunday afternoon, and I was sure I wouldn't get anywhere with it until Monday. Lo and behold, someone actually answered! And when I explained what had happened, they gave me a new product key to make my version legit...for FREE! Yeah, I couldn't believe it, either. All I had to do was give them the product key that Magic Jellybean gave me, and then they gave me a new one that would work. Of course, they did ask me WHERE I bought the laptop, and at that point, I was only too glad to tell them. I read later that they were imposing fines to dealers that did stuff like that...
Anyway, the lesson here is to make sure you check a PC before taking it home for things like this, and don't take the seller's word on it.
My advice is to make your XP work at all costs. I recently was forced to switch to Vista, because my old laptop bit-the-dust, and I'm in VISTA HELL right now! Dont' switch to Vista unless you absolutely have to, and then make sure it is the 64 bit version, and not 32. 32 bit has memory issues...blackscreen problems, browser freeze-up problems, reboot problems, etc...even with all updates installed.
Good luck to you!
Options to Obtain A Legal Windows License
by kaveets - 2/14/09 12:33 AM In reply to: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Assuming you are unable to contact the seller to obtain a valid license key, there are some other options for making your current Windows XP operating system legal. Alternatively, you can purchase and install a new Windows operating system (XP or Vista). A third option (not discussed here) would be to download and install a free Linux operating system such as Ubuntu.
First, let’s look at a free option for obtaining a legitimate copy of Windows. If your PC is branded (Dell, HP, etc.), it most likely came from the manufacturer with an OEM version of Windows preinstalled. Check the case carefully for a Windows Certificate of Authenticity sticker which would contain a valid license key. Lacking that, you can call the manufacturer and ask them for help in identifying the service tag or serial number of your PC (it’s usually shown in the BIOS). With that, they can tell you what operating system the PC originally shipped with. Since any version of Windows would have been licensed only to your particular PC, the manufacturer may be able to assist you in obtaining the key, or providing a low cost set of recovery disks for reinstalling the original software.
Now, if the above doesn’t apply to your situation and you want to stay with Windows, you will need to purchase a legitimate license for your PC. One way to do this, and the way I would try first, is to visit the Genuine Microsoft Software website and read the FAQs at http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/faq.aspx. There, you can learn about what to do if you have mistakenly purchased a counterfeit version of Windows, and purchase an Electronic License Key to legally activate your copy of Windows. A few years back, a key through this program cost $99 for XP Home and $149 for XP Pro, although these prices may have since changed. After you purchase the license key, you will download validation software that checks all of the Windows files on your PC to make sure they are original. If the files pass inspection, you will be able to immediately convert your operating system into a legal copy. If the files don’t pass, you must reinstall the operating system from the Windows backup disk which is mailed when you purchase the license.
If you don't want to purchase a license directly from Microsoft, you can always purchase a retail copy of Windows from a reseller. Another legitimate option you may want to consider if your PC is generic (non-branded) is to purchase an OEM version of Windows. OEM versions are used by system builders and are generally less costly than the retail version of the same software. You can purchase either the Home or Pro version of Windows. Purchasing the Pro version would allow you to simply enter the new license key without reinstalling your current operating system (which I would encourage you to do anyway - see below). However, the Home version should meet your needs at a lower cost.
You mentioned that things are currently not working properly. Since you aren’t receiving Windows Updates, your PC is more vulnerable to viruses, malware, and other security problems. If it were my PC, I would most definitely do a clean install of the operating system. A clean install deletes the operating system partition, reformats the hard disk, and reinstalls Windows. This is really the only way of being certain you have eradicated any malware that may be lurking on your PC. Of course, doing this also erases all of your data and programs. If you decide to go this route, you must first backup all of your data. You will also need to obtain and reinstall all of the device drivers for your PC, and any programs such as office suites, photo viewers, DVD movie players, etc. that may be installed. While doing a clean install is not particularly difficult, if you are unfamiliar with any of the concepts discussed in this paragraph, you should find an experienced person to guide you.
The decision to stay with Windows XP or switch to Vista mostly depends on your comfort level with trying something new. While there are still a few older peripherals (e.g. printers and scanners) that don’t work with Vista, most of the problems were fixed in SP1. I use both of them and in my opinion, they work equally well. Actually, I am beginning to prefer Vista, even after hating it when it first came out. Assuming your PC is only a year or two old, with 2GB of RAM, Vista should run just fine. While the new Windows 7 is excellent (I am running the Beta), it won’t be available until later this year at the earliest, so this is not an option for your situation.
Good luck and I hope this helps in getting your PC back in shape soon!
totally agree with this answer
by pegggy - 2/21/09 7:42 AM In reply to: Options to Obtain A Legal Windows License by kaveetsI had someone help me upgrade a laptop from windows 98 that turned out to be a bootleg copy of XP pro. I purchased a copy of XP Pro from Microsoft. I can't remember why, but after they checked files on-line and issued a key, I still needed to re-install operating system. I am a 68 yr old grandmother and very new to computing at the time. Microsoft has provided me with so much free technical assistance that even I had no problems doing a clean install and can now do it on my own when my computer gets way too sluggish. For me, it was worth every penny to purchase from Microsoft directly.
Buying a legit copy
by robroyzz - 2/21/09 8:47 AM In reply to: Options to Obtain A Legal Windows License by kaveetsDo you have any "Computer Shows" in your area? In the New England area there are a few that appear about monthly in different cities. If they are close enough to where you live you could possibly get a legit copy of XP from one of the vendors at the show at a good price since the whole idea of a Computer Show is to sell pc stuff at a discount. The last XPPro SP3 I bought in such a way was $82.
Even if it's too far just to save $10-$20 you could make a list of things you need or desire and go looking for a number of components/sw, possibly the total will be worth it.
Not that you can't find any savings, but be wary
by BigGuns149 - 2/23/09 1:03 PM In reply to: Buying a legit copy by robroyzzI would be wary insofar as that unlike a retail store someone selling at a computer show is less likely to fear legal retribution if they sold you a counterfeit copy. I would make that you knew what legit media is supposed to look like and inspect the media before you leave the show.
make a checklist
by Insight Driver - 2/21/09 12:33 PM In reply to: Options to Obtain A Legal Windows License by kaveetsSince you want a legit OS, you should make a checklist of things to do.
What files/pictures/documents/email do you want to save? Burn a CD or DVD with those files.
Passwords, software install keys, email and internet settings should be copied to a text document or printed.
Since you want to clean your case, this is a good time to see the brand of motherboard, graphics, etc. Before you do anything else, make sure you go to web sites and download the motherboard drivers, the graphics driver, printer, etc. Burn these, too, to a CD or DVD.
Do then get an OEM copy of XP pro by buying a piece of hardware. You might, since prices have come down, get a do-everything Blue-Ray burner.
This is also a good time to read up on reinstalling windows.Because there are a lot of little things you can forget, that is why it is wise to make a checklist before you end up wiping your hard drive.
FYI, reinstalling doesn't require a reformat
by BigGuns149 - 2/23/09 1:14 PM In reply to: Options to Obtain A Legal Windows License by kaveetsA small correction I would mention is that reinstalling Windows doesn't require one to reformat the HDD. AFAIK, going way back to the Windows 3.1 days reinstalling has never required one to reformat the HDD.
If one reinstalls XP in the same directory as the old install all the files in the old Windows directory are deleted and all the Windows system files are copied from the Windows media. The only major advantage that I see in reformatting the HDD is that the Windows directory will be written near the beginning of the drive (ie. the fastest portion of the drive). Unless your HDD is full of files that you don't use and have no interest in keeping you will waste a LOT of time copying the data to another drive and back again. Formatting the HDD under the guise of eliminating viruses is silly if some of the data you are backing up has a virus.
Unless the amount of data you want to keep is relatively I think you would be better off doing a reinstall without reformatting and then scanning all of files with a up to date AV and antispyware software.
Not to worry....
by dmm007 - 2/14/09 12:36 AM In reply to: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This is very common, and you have several options. If your PC is a name brand (HP, Gateway, Dell, etc.), the manufacturer can provide you with an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) restore disc set that will restore the computer to its original state (usually for a small fee). If you want to retain your current Windows environment, programs, and personal content, it isn't that simple, but not bad. Vista will not upgrade your current XP PRO bootleg version. You can use a legal XP Pro upgrade version. It is simple, and will retain all your current content and settings. You cannot upgrade to an "inferior" version, like XP Home, or Vista Premium (or any Vista version below Ultimate), from XP Pro, of any release version, legal or otherwise. You can obtain a copy of any windows version and install it, if you format the drive (erase all previous content), which is an option during the install process. All that said, your simplest option is to purchase a copy of XP Pro (upgrade license version), and upgrade what you have. It will install seamlessly, accept your new license key, and retain all your current content and settings. If you choose the XP Pro upgrade, you will need the latest release (SP-3) if your computer has an SATA hard drive controller. If you don't, additional install steps will be required, which aren't that simple. Any version of Vista will install with an SATA drive controller. If you get the OEM software restore set, you won't need to worry about this (the SATA drivers will be included). If you use an XP Pro upgrade version, and upgrade from your current XP Pro, from the Windows install (not the "boot from CD" option), you will not need to bother with the SATA drivers (they are already installed on the hard drive, and will incorporate with the upgrade).
Once you upgrade or install a clean version, don't worry about the "legal" issues. The illegal license Windows copy will vaporize.
Lastly, you can (and should, in my opinion) contact Microsoft to report the piracy. The web address is: www.microsoft.com/piracy/reporting/default.aspx . It's up to you.
Installing over
by jpap93 - 2/14/09 12:42 AM In reply to: Help, I need to make my Windows XP system legit again by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Ok, i may be wrong, but from what i remember u can just purchase a new XP cd, make windows boot from that (F8), and choose to reinstall them. And that ought do it. I'm not so sure about Vista, but i believe it's almost the same workaround. Hope it works.
Papastergiou Jim
learn linux
by ctkpe - 2/14/09 12:58 AM In reply to: Installing over by jpap93and a .sh script is all you need
no need to buy commercial utilities
no more. 
instant gratification of windows.
How/Where to learn Linux.
by Clinton Buckley - 2/21/09 2:53 AM In reply to: learn linux by ctkpeMy XP disk is LEGIT but William Gates has assumed it to be fake just because in my attempt to learn how to reload and fix problems I have been so corrupt as to load it too many times and he is so unhappy that my disk is now restricted and must be legitimised every time I use it. Your e-mail gives .sh but this, without any explanation is meaningless to me, could you help?
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
