Re: Genuine XP windows
 

there are ways of getting past it... ;)

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Apparently if you change the motherboard in your pc you are supposed to buy a new copy of Windows because this constitutes a "new machine". Just thought i'd mention it (of course we would all do that wouldn't we). I have disabled the "Windows Genuine Advantage Notification" through my firewall (aah peace). Not that mine isn't genuine of course!

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

No you don't. please don't spread rubbish rumours. You may need to ring up to reactivate your license but that is all.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

No honestly. that is from Microsoft (perhaps i misunderstood it but that was how i interpreted it).

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

"If you overhaul your computer by replacing a substantial number of hardware components, it may appear to be a different PC. You may have to reactivate Windows XP. If this should occur, you can call the telephone number displayed on the activation screen to reactivate the software." Ok fair enough. I read a similar thing somewhere but it was worded a bit different. My mistake, sorry.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

yes you did. You've read a little about how it counts component changes and then forces a re register.

It was actually heavily discussed in tech circles before XP was launched 5 years ago.

Its no major problem but you do need to be very careful when putting stuff like this on public boards where the vast majority of people are non technical. They will read your posts and then worry about stuff breaking if they put a new bit in their PC

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

yeh but that normally means deleting the files which run the genuine thing.. so therefore if microsoft send an update out those files will probably be included again so the problem will return :) But its true the 5 second countdown thing is very annoying

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

You can replace the WGA file to ensure that it's turned off and you won't get the annoying reminders, but ya know, thats probs not a great idea. A better idea would be to talk to Entwistle about using Linux a free operating system ... :p

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

if you can get your hands on a corporate edition of xp pro you should be able to download all the updates without any hassle because they are used on many systems rather than just one

if ime wrong somone will correct me - edit: i am wrong

its just knowing someone who has a copy ;)

ime still running home edition that came with the pc and to be honest its horrible compared to pro

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

just to point out that even with ahem dodgy XP it will still download and install critical updates in the background, you just cant get non critical stuff like the latest windows media player for example. Ideally switch Automatic Updates to download and ask then dont install the Genuine Windows Advantage whatsits in the first place, or just switch to linux :)

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

In what way? There is actually very little difference between teh two, mainly server software such as IIS that is missing

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Entwisi

I do in fact now have a genuine copy of windows home ed, techy Q coming up hehehehe, do i have to do a clean install or would it be posible as im only changing windows be able to just uninstall old windows to put proper xp on from boot up?

Probably know its gonna be a clean install option but hey thought i'd ask in case not neccessary ???

Ta in advance:D

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Its down to the license key that is registered within your installed version of windows. TBH its probably a good thing to do a clean install as it tends to clear out a load of junk that accumulates over time. It would be my opinion that you should do a clean install.

You can just install a new version of windows over the old one but I personally am never convinced that it does it properly and you tend to get problems further down the line. It is also possible to install a second copy of windows on the disk but you get issues where softawre you already have installed doesn't work due to problems with the registry.

Whatever you do decide, make sure you have backed up everything you want to keep just in case (remember email addresses, login details as well as pictures, documents, save games etc)

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Cheers Ian

Thought i best ask you before i attempt it, only thing that i hate with clean installs is machine driver ie hardrive internal bits, i have drivers for everything else, & i think my floppy is playing up. Do i need a boot floppy made up or can i just boot from cdrom?

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

I see no resone why you cant put the xp program on your comp providing you have the 25 pin number that came with the genuine xp disk and the serial number of course you will have to be on the net or ring up to license it but if you have not formated a drive before take it to a good shop along with your disk.
Pat.