Non Genuine Windows XP

[JoJoGabor]

When it pops up saying you have a non-genuine copy of Windows it will give you the option of buying a license right there and then over the internet. This will activate your copy of Windows without reinstalling anything

[suityou01]

Security updates are the one class of updates they always let you install, legit or not.

If you purchase a legit license there are tools to change the installed key. There's no need to reinstall anything. Google XP Key Changer. Careful to scan for viruses though as this is a popular place to hide trojans.

Did this very thing this morning. Bought an EEE PC a while ago and scrubbed Linux to put on the XP downgrade. Naughty copy of course, but thought it must be possible to get it licensed. The WGA blue star that sits next to the clock, right click it to get a pop up menu, select the "Buy license" option, and it takes you to a the WGA web site. 5 mins later I was licensed.

The WGA license key changer tool I got from Microsoft, and once I told Zone alarm it was allowed to connect to the web, and I logged in as a user with administrative privs it was a doddle. Cost £97, which may be more than you can get it from elsewhere, but I-Iz_loaded

Actually not loaded, but I would pay £20 more for ease of convenience, as my time is more valuable than that taken to tulip around with CDs and USB keys (the EEE has no CD Rom drive)

[gadgetman]

Security updates are the one class of updates they always let you install, legit or not.

If you purchase a legit license there are tools to change the installed key. There's no need to reinstall anything. Google XP Key Changer. Careful to scan for viruses though as this is a popular place to hide trojans.

[dinker]

There are ways to get it off, but you lose security updates, no?

NO

[expat]

The first rule of XP is never let WGA onto your machine.

There are ways to get it off, but you lose security updates, no?

[Grinder]

Can't you just 'Activate Windows' with a legit licence key

I am on Vista here, so cannot check this but I moved my XP install several times between machines and eventually the on-line Activation didn't work - I had to phone Microsoft and get a new activation key.

Anyway, I can't see why you can't give the new product key (on the phone if necessary) and use if to activate the copy that's already on the machine. Its what I would try first - without even using the new XP DVD.

[dinker]

The first rule of XP is never let WGA onto your machine.

[Pondlife]

Why can't he install a legit copy on top, without losing all his apps/data?

That's part of my question. Would a new install not mean a clean registry (or whatever) and therefore a new office install?

[d000hg]

Why can't he install a legit copy on top, without losing all his apps/data?

[pmeswani]

Cheers both.

I'll advise him to get his wallet out.

Buy an external USB HD, get a copy of Helix (or another Linux Live CD) and DD the files cross to the hard drive. Make sure that the files have copied successfully and then reinstall Windows with a legit copy. Hopefully all the files are recovered, and happy days are back again.

[Pondlife]

Cheers both.

I'll advise him to get his wallet out.

[expat]

Kind of a non-answer, but: I found myself there too. I just bought an OEM copy, about £70. I did a clean install and then re-installed all my apps. It was a real pain because there were indeed lots of settings to find and set again; and lots of little functions, like hibernating, or turning on the WiFi light, that needed separate drivers reinstalled.

I believe that I could have installed my new Windows over the old one, and in retrospect that's what I would have done.

[DaveB]

Hi All,

Mate has a hookie copy of XP on his machine that was installed by some boyo who's no longer returning calls.

When the machine boots he's getting a pop up telling him that windows knows it's a dodgy copy. I don't know exactly what it says as it's in German.

Two questions;

1) is is now going to require a re-install therefore losing all his ISP and outlook settings etc (no way he's going to know any of them)

2) would windows stop USB ports from functioning as his mouse and keyboard no longer work, or is this completely unrelated? Mouse works fine on another PC

Cheers

PL

Sounds like he's stuffed. If he calls Microsoft he may be able to use their Genuine Windows offer to get a free legit copy or a licence key to make what he has legit. Ther are some hoops to jump through for this and it's not guarenteed.

The USB thing could be failed USB hardware in the PC or a corrupted USB device driver. Does it work with a different mouse? Can you boot from another disk and see if the mouse starts working?

[Pondlife]

Hi All,

Mate has a hookie copy of XP on his machine that was installed by some boyo who's no longer returning calls.

When the machine boots he's getting a pop up telling him that windows knows it's a dodgy copy. I don't know exactly what it says as it's in German.

Two questions;

1) is is now going to require a re-install therefore losing all his ISP and outlook settings etc (no way he's going to know any of them)

2) would windows stop USB ports from functioning as his mouse and keyboard no longer work, or is this completely unrelated? Mouse works fine on another PC

Cheers

PL