Genuine XP windows
 

Can anyone help with a tech Q, i bought a pc off ebay last year & now updates say that my Xp is not genuine but i do have an original XP disk which my dad gave me would this counteract the problem or is it bloody MSN corporate crap based on registration & not the fact of genuine disk & will it still work .:confused:

Does anyone know about this that can help:D

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Its not the disc that you use to install it, its the license key that you put in that defines it as genuine or not. Did your dad give you a hologram sticker with a 20 digit key on it? that is what you need.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

The whole disk is hollogramic LOL screwing me eyes up pmsl

He has given me the code 25 no/letter mix & on the disk where says microsoft in a square is a 20 digit number hollogram.

does that help me lol:confused:

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Ah it says on the disk that you cant even lend the original:eek: so looks like im a bit up s**ts creek without a paddle here- blaming Bill rolling in it Gates:mad:

Any ideas how to sort me problem out, at the moment i have a star near clock in taskbar which is alert to not genuine copy so will it mean windows will stop working soon:(

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Xp is licensed to only one PC. It is even debatable whether you can uninstall it from one PC and move it to another. The only way to stop it from not working is to install a legit copy or (and I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM, IN FACT I'M A BIT UNSURE TO POSTING IT) install another dodgy copy and turn off auto updates. this leaves you at the mercy of all the lovely nasty's that hunt out insecure windows xp machines though.

I'm afraid that more and more people who are using iffy copies are going to start coming up against this sort of thing and I can see people like me getting busy/rich from fixing it

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Oh i thought the paddle was gone, though i did not actually know i didnt have a legit xp when i bought it till now & now nowt i can do because its out of its 3 mnth warranty to demand or anything - so be warned people if you buy a pc off ebay it might not have genuine xp & theres no way of knowing till like me it get highlighted now & not much change of comebacks:(

So how much am i looking for fixing it Entwisi:confused:

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Why do you want to fix it? Is it actually broken?

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

For reason entwisi has pointed out, my windows is going to be very unstable - the fact its marked my pc as counterfitted i'll get no updates or owt so will be open to alsorts.

Ok how much does another CD cost?

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

When I bought a copy of XP Pro for work it cost £200

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

XP home is a lot cheaper. IIRC its about £70. There are ways to reduce teh risk of nasties attacking your PC. I'll drop you a PM with some options

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

lol! I've got the same problem with my Windows XP :rolleyes:

Can I ask a really silly dumb question to you techies (please try not to wet in your pants laughing it will only be embarrassing for yourself) Can you take Wndows dogey XP off and leave a Firefox on?

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

<fx: Ian picks himself off the floor and between gasps for breath spouts>

No dear, XP is the Operating System. It is basically the translator between you and the 1's and 0's that the computer understands. Firefox is a program that lives on top of XP to allow you to view webpages.

The list of available Operating systems is
Microsoft
=======
XP
Me(Don't touch this with anyones never mind your own)
98 (out of service now)
95 (died about 4 years ago)

Others
=====
Linux (many different 'versions' each with a target audience)
Solaris ( if you like eating razor blades for breakfast)
AIX( If you and IBM are best buddies only)
Free BSD (linux fopr those who are into S & M)
BeOS(even more esoteric than Free BSD)

There are a few others but not that I would even consider a home user playing with :)

Realistically the only option you have to Windows is Linux. However you need to understand it is different to windows, Windows programs don't work on it. there are normally alternatives but they may not be as feature rich. However they do have teh benefit of being FREE!

So now Microsoft have finally started to lock out dodgy copies it is going to get very interesting to see what happens next.

Ian starts working out his new hourly rate!

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

No Dear!! I would slap him for talking like that to you Tinks :D

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Hmmm

<fx: Tinks takes down her head scarf and turns up her earring aid >

"Was you talking to me entwisi dear?"


lol! Yeah I understand what you mean entwisi I just hope you did pee in your pants it should be very cold to be sat in by now :p

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Firefox is just a browser which works best seeing accyweb lol:p

Right is update ive saved my files, ive changed browser to firefox & outlook to motzilla [which is being a pain] i cant access my gmail account in firefox. Another nightmare to my nightmarish hell life lol. Though ive come to the point the techies gods have that microsoft is a bloody rich leech & a**e licked so much thro IE.

Would be interested in looking at alternative OS thats like xp but not but i bet it isn't cheap & then theres the reliability of it.

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.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

The CD should be bootable if its genuine.

As for taking it to a good shop, I'm afraid they are few and far between. plus it actually isn't that hard to reinstall and as long as you have backed everything up first should pose no risk to your data. It also helps if you have internet access somewhere else to contact us techies if you do make a mess of it. I'm more than happy to help people who want to have a go at something. Plus you get the glow of having learnt how to do something.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Cheers Ian :D

Yeh no probs cant count the times of re formatting - certainly the kids one, least its one way of knowing yer pc inside out :p LOL

Altho i always get nervous with a new machine as mine hasn't been a prob cept for the xp. Will format later on & will shout for help via tinks but im sure it'll be ok

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Im starting saving my stuff & im off to format c :eek: wish me luck hopefully be back sorted - entwisi - dont be too far away just in case LOL!!!!!!!!

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Ok got a question for you entwisi and all you techno's out there. Why is it that its coming up windows is not genuine etc and i'm still getting updates?
And they are microsoft ones not for the firewall or virus checker etc.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Microsoft were told by the courts that they couldn't refuse to update critical patches,plus it looks bad for them when all these PCs start falling over due to latest virus , its irrelevant that they are copies, its just bad press all round. They can withhold 'upgrades' though.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Im Back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Geee what a nightmare with getting home edition running right, altho finding how to format c on xp was easy enough im quite a wizz :D

now being genuine xp'er:D....alll sorted despite previous edit rant lol

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Bloody grrrrrrrrr & grrrrrr i saved or should say tried to save my desktop before wipin my drive & it didnt save properly when trying to reinstall it back my treasured limited edition desktop ASFC flag i got year or 2 back from fishy site has gone - forever :(

accymel is best avoided as very very angry & sad:mad: at that.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

You should be able to boot from the CD if your BIOS is set to allow it. Just stick the CD in and restart the PC. You sometimes get asked to "Press any key to boot from CD-ROM" while your PC is still on the black screen early during start up. You can always cancel/exit the windows setup procedure when it starts, it will just prove that you can boot from CD.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

I DO NOT beleive this!!!!

The Xp disk thats an original cdrom that i formatted old one & done all the messing around to put the original disk on...........................errr so how come i've again got this not genuine windows notification that luckily is still in wait as in manual download ?????????????????

F-ing Bill Gates rip off merchant!!!

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

What do i do now? Cant afford pc worlds prices, cant afford a lot already been ebay route which are not genuine as discovered:(

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

the program has to be downloaded, then it installs and checks if you have a genuine windows installation and if its genuine you wont have a problem, unless I am mis-understanding what you are saying there

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Downloading it anyway, just when it happened before it put nasty pop ups & stars on saying it wasn't genuine so presumes its going to do the same even though its genuine .... here goes:eek:

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

if its genuine it wont do that, if its not it will :)

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Well nowts come up yet:)

I have to opologise for paranoia, well cant blame me for how many times its stuck my disk is fake up & its the genuine windows thingy that does it so panicked when that came up

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

you're not paranoid...Bill Gates really does want to get you....'re money :)

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

LOL well i think that what drives my paranoia - i dont trust the money grabbing get lmao!!!!

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Its not the 'disc' that needs to be genuine, its the license number that you use to install it with that has to be a genuine 'you only' license. There are corporate ones doing the rounds that Microsoft know are about and have been deemed 'non genuine' . Where did you get the license number from?

as for Home vs Pro, there is actually very little difference, the main bits being IIS (Web Server) plus a few high end admin tools. In day to day use I can't think of a single difference that you would notice. It may be that you haven't configured it teh same but there is no reason why you can't.

Give me a shout if you want more info

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

:confused: i got the licence with the disk:D Hence the reformat jobber hehehe:p

My old xp [pro] was on when i bought the pc so was 'activated' already, tho took 9 months to get the pop ups.

I dunno i just prefer it as it ran better & had quirky things that was handy, like desktop clean-up so it tidies up the un-necessary instead of being in view home dont do that:rolleyes:

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

You will have to be careful what you get some companies will want to sell you an OEM (Original End Manufacturer) copy of windows this is usually just a booklet with a cd sometimes and a 1" by 2.5" sticker with the code for it. you are not allowed to use these unless it has been sold with a new pc. the one you should be using is a boxed version that are usury a lot more expensive than the OEM. When you have the new copy of windows and the disk you can run a utility called sysprep this will allow you to change the licence key as it resets all the licensing stuff and askes you to re enter it all. The 2 versions of windows must match i.e win XP Pro to XP Pro and XP Home to XP Home

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Hello... 2 options really .. £60 for XP Home edition or £78 for XP media centre ( same as home edition except it has a few addons.. oem version you cabn buy with a hard drive or memory as long as it is with a main component you will be fine.
i personally would go for media centre as you get a lot more!!

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Does it know that you've bought it with a hard drive then?
I've got xp pro, and agree with entwisi, there is not really any difference so I think I'm going to get media centre edition. At a cost of 78 quid it's worth the peace of mind that the updates give.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

is your XP pro dodgy then? Media centre may not be all its cracked up to be, what are you actually wanting that you think it will give you over standard 'home'

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Wait for Vista.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

IM HAVEING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT IT HAS ONLY STARTED SINCE I INSTALLED MSN FOR MY DAUGHTER TO CHAT WITH HER MATES ,
I KNOW THIS MAY NOT HELP BUT I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT AS WELL KNOW YOUR NOT THE ONLY ONE ......................................:mad:

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Does the problem also control Caps Lock ?

And the reason why it only started when you installed MSN was because you connected to windows to install it, this is when they checked to see if you ran genuine windows... which it looks like you don't.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

I don't want vista n its bugs, I'd rather have xp. I'm not fussed which entwisi, do you think that media centre edition isnt worth bothering with. I just wanted to use the pc as a dvd player and recorder, thought it would be easier wioth mce.

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

just download a crack.... bye bye problem

Re: Genuine XP windows
 

Good luck with that !!!! I did that the other week, had to format 30 mins later, it really messed my system up. Make sure you virus scan the crack.

:(