Pirated Copy Fix

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Guest

A local store with great system prices installed a pirated copy of XP on my
machine. Now, I can't get service packs, etc.
How do I correct this situation? If I purchase a genuine copy, must I do a
complete reinstall, install over the existing copy, do a repair, or WHAT??
Thanks.
-Pete
 
A local store with great system prices installed a pirated copy of XP
on my machine. Now, I can't get service packs, etc.
How do I correct this situation? If I purchase a genuine copy, must I
do a complete reinstall, install over the existing copy, do a repair,
or WHAT?? Thanks.
-Pete
Click to expand...

Now you know why they had such "great prices". ;-)

Normally you buy a full retail copy and do a Repair Install. However, it
is extremely wise to back up all your data first Just In Case. Here is
a link to help you:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Malke
 
A local store with great system prices installed a pirated copy of XP on my
machine. Now, I can't get service packs, etc.
How do I correct this situation? If I purchase a genuine copy, must I do a
complete reinstall, install over the existing copy, do a repair, or WHAT??
Thanks.
-Pete
Click to expand...
First you need to report that store to MS. Secondly go back and
demand a legal copy. You're entitled to it.

gls858
 
A local store with great system prices installed a pirated copy of XP on my
machine. Now, I can't get service packs, etc.
How do I correct this situation? If I purchase a genuine copy, must I do a
complete reinstall, install over the existing copy, do a repair, or WHAT??
Thanks.
-Pete
Click to expand...


If you are trying to install a WinXP Service Pack and getting the
following:

The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q326904

You need to purchase and use a _legitimate_ full retail copy of
WinXP Pro to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation,
using the new CD and Product Key.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

You should also report whomever sold you this license to your local law
enforcement agencies; you've been defrauded.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
Full Retail?
I do have a prior version -isn't that OK?
-Pete
Click to expand...
Here are some considerations:
If your prior version is currently installed on another system then you
can't use it to run a Repair Install on a second system as it would then be
installed on more than one system and violate the License Agreement. If your
prior version is an OEM version that was previously installed on another
system you cannot use it on a second system even if it is no longer
installed. That is the way of OEM versions. If your prior version is XP Home
then it will not be useful as "pirated versions" are XP Professional and you
can not run a Repair Install overtop XP Pro using XP Home. If when you boot
the system with the prior version and after you accept the License Agreement
(press F8) and you do not see a screen that tells you a version of Windows
XP was found would you like to attempt to repair - press "R", then you won't
be able to run the Repair Install.

However if your prior version is not currently installed, is not an OEM and
is Windows XP Pro there is a good chance that you can simply run it overtop
of the pirated version and make it legal.
 
gls858 said:
First you need to report that store to MS. Secondly go back and
demand a legal copy. You're entitled to it.

gls858
Click to expand...

Also I believe that I read somewhere on Microsoft's Website that if you
report where you got the pirated edition in detail, they will replace
it with a legitimate copy directly from Microsoft.
Best of Luck.
 
Doh,
if the user has a qualified prior WindowsOS, he can buy an upgrade and
install clean.
Michael
 
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