Got new hard drive, now getting "This copy of Windows is not genui

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Guest

Hi. My hard drive burned out a few months ago (lost everything on it),
computer shop replaced it, only asking for the key instead of taking the
original XP disk I had and installing it. Is the reason I'm getting this
message because of this, or because that this is the 2nd drive XP is being
installed to?

TIA,
Patrick
 
Patrick said:
Hi. My hard drive burned out a few months ago (lost everything on it),
computer shop replaced it, only asking for the key instead of taking
the original XP disk I had and installing it. Is the reason I'm
getting this message because of this, or because that this is the 2nd
drive XP is being installed to?

TIA,
Patrick
Click to expand...

Run this utility to see what key they used when installing Windows.

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

If it doesn't match your key go back to them and ask why? If it does then
try the following the following links.

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/diag/

http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/default.aspx?ForumGroupID=125&SiteID=25

I'm betting your key did not work with their Windows disks and they used a
different key.
 
Patrick said:
Hi. My hard drive burned out a few months ago (lost everything on it),
computer shop replaced it, only asking for the key instead of taking
the original XP disk I had and installing it. Is the reason I'm
getting this message because of this, or because that this is the 2nd
drive XP is being installed to?
Click to expand...

I'd imagine, the first reason.
 
Patrick said:
Hi. My hard drive burned out a few months ago (lost everything on it),
computer shop replaced it, only asking for the key instead of taking the
original XP disk I had and installing it. Is the reason I'm getting this
message because of this, or because that this is the 2nd drive XP is being
installed to?

TIA,
Patrick
Click to expand...

The shop used their copy (which may not have been legal) to install XP on your drive.
If you had an OEM version and they used a corporate version you have a problem.
You should take your disk to them and have them fix the issue, or you will report them to MS.
If your DISK is not a "restore only" disk, you can do a Repair Install and get back to genuine.
If it is a "restore only" you will need to backup all of your data and settings first.
 
Hi, Finally getting a chance to fix my computer (tough finding time with a
2yr old and a newborn).
I don't want to go back to the shop, if I don't have to. They've already
done a few things wrong (left out memory and firewire card), can only imagine
what is next.
I tried re-installing Windows XP with my disk (it's the 2002 upgrade
version, as I originally had 98 on this computer when I got it), but this
message comes up...

"Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is
newer than the version on the CD.
Warning: If you decide to delete the newer version of Windows that is
currently installed on your computer, the files and settings cannot be
recovered."


I've already backed up everything on the computer, so not a big deal if I
lose what is saved on it, including programs.

TIA
 
Patrick said:
"Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is
newer than the version on the CD.
Warning: If you decide to delete the newer version of Windows that is
currently installed on your computer, the files and settings cannot be
recovered."
Click to expand...

The version of XP that you're running has probably had SP2 applied,
and the CD that you're using doesn't have SP2.

If you want to delete the current setup and install from scratch, go
ahead and follow the instructions to do that. Then apply SP2 when you
finish.

You can make an installation CD that includes SP2 by a process called
"slipstreaming". Google for it.
 
Patrick said:
Hi, Finally getting a chance to fix my computer (tough finding time
with a 2yr old and a newborn).
I don't want to go back to the shop, if I don't have to. They've
already done a few things wrong (left out memory and firewire card),
can only imagine what is next.
I tried re-installing Windows XP with my disk (it's the 2002 upgrade
version, as I originally had 98 on this computer when I got it), but
this message comes up...

"Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your
computer is newer than the version on the CD.
Warning: If you decide to delete the newer version of Windows that is
currently installed on your computer, the files and settings cannot be
recovered."
Click to expand...


Two points:

1. You have SP2 installed, and your XP CD is without it, so it is an older
version than what's installed.

2. If you're trying to to reinstall Windows cleanly and you're getting this
message, you're going about it wrong. You're trying to install Windows from
within Windows. You can't format the Windows drive from within Windows,
since that would leave Windows without a leg to stand on.

Just boot from the Windows XP CD (change the BIOS boot order if necessary to
accomplish this) and follow the prompts for a clean installation (delete the
existing partition by pressing "D" when prompted, then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Once you've installed it cleanly, you can then install SP2. Alternatively,
you can create a slipstreamed CD of XP, including SP2, and use it. See
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=7262
or http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm


I've already backed up everything on the computer, so not a big deal
if I lose what is saved on it, including programs.
Click to expand...


Just to make sure you understand, let me point out that any backups you have
of your programs are useless if you do a clean reinstallation. They will
have to be reinstalled from their original media.
 
So, it's ok to reboot using an Windows upgrade (version 2002)? Just want to
doublecheck, before I do it.

Just to make sure you understand, let me point out that any backups you have
of your programs are useless if you do a clean reinstallation. They will
have to be reinstalled from their original media.
Click to expand...

Sorry, didn't clarify this good enough. I have original copies of programs,
will reinstall, if I have to. Backed up projects and files made with these
programs.
 
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