Lonny said:
legitimately purchased software, installed by former
office IT department. I do not have orig CD, and the key
code prevents completion of downloads.
Please help! My patience with this problem is wearing
very thin,
Thank you for your cooperation.
Not ewnough information. If your patience was wearing thin, you'd
think you would provide a bit more detail - like the exact message
you are receiving.
Off-hand it sounds like your "IT Department" installed a hacked key
version of Windows XP on your PC and you need to purchase your own
copy now. If it was a corporate license and they are now your
"former" office - you have no right to that key even if it was
legitimate.
lonny said:
if your of hand thoughts are correct, I will need to buy
new software however, can I purchase an upgrade software,
or do I need to buyand reinstall the entire program? And
if so what version would be the latest upgrade?
Please excuse my lack of computer skills here.. bu the
service pack would be in the midst of install phase when
the message contained info such as product key code and
suggested anti piracy team contact. I never knew I could
be using bad software, never
Thanks so much for your feedback. I guess this forum
really can provide great user support!!
Unfortunately - unless your new office has a legitimate corporate key - you
may be unable to just "install over" or change your key - as you can change
keys, but only one corporate for another I believe.
Assuming that is not the case, you will have to purchase a copy of Windows
XP of your own. If you ever plan on getting a new computer, I would suggest
getting a RETAIL copy of Windows XP even though it costs more than the OEM
version. The OEM is "bound" to the first computer it is installed on by the
EULA (End-User Licensing Agreement) you agree to at installation. I would
suggest Windows XP Professional - as that is what you have now.
The clean install is fairly straight-forward:
1) Back up your data (this includes any pictures, word
files, excel files, powerpoint files, emails, contacts in your email
application, bookmarks/favorites, MSWorks files, wordperfect files,
downloaded applications you have installed, drivers, etc you have. Burn
them to CD or copy them to something other than this machine in whatever way
you have available.)
2) Disconnect your computer from any method available to it to contact the
Internet.
3) Set your computer to boot from the CDROM drive in the System BIOS.
4) Put your Windows XP CD into the CDROM drive.
5) Power off and back on your computer.
6) Watch for the message "Press Any Key to boot from CD" and do so when you
see it.
7) Follow the on-screen prompts - read the information presented to you.
8) When you get to the screen that asks which partiton you wish to install
Windows onto, DELETE the partitions there, CREATE your own set (or single)
partition and continue following the on-screen prompts.
9) When you are done installing, log into your PC and turn on the Windows
Firewall:
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/home/using/howto/homenet/icf.asp
10) Hook your computer up to the Internet now and visit:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
Scan your computer for updates, install all the critical updates. You
will have to reboot several times and revisit this page before you are
done.
11) After reinstalling, follow all the advice given above these installation
instructions to prevent having to do this in the future.
Instructions with Pictures:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/cleanxp.htm
or
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
If your new job (if you have a new job) happens to have a volume license
key - you can change the key...
How to change the Volume Licensing product key on a Windows XP SP1-based
computer
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=328874