XP Produck Key Issue

eprophet

Hi,

My dad bought a computer for my mum a couple of weeks ago, but he stupidly bought it from a market stall.
The seller convinced him that it was a good spec pc but as he needed a new one of gaming so this was the reason for the sale.
It was going cheapish due to minor damage and it lacked the original Windows CD but has a backup instead which works the same, just doesn’t look as nice!!

Well it turns out the installation is a mess of files left behind after games uninstalled and other programs that I have no idea what they are and don’t know which ones are important or not.
Also I have noticed that some things are missing (nothing too serious). Some icons such as jpg files come up as unknown file type icon and some images missing like in ‘control panel’ and ‘help and support’ there is a little cross instead of the Windows logo or question mark in the blue circle.

The installation work ok despite this, but I would like to reformat the computer and start with a clean install. Being suspicious this is what I tried:

1. Swapped the hard drive and installed XP from the CD provided.
This seemed to work fine until I tried to install Service Pack 2 and it turns out to be a well known pirated product key.
2. After searching google I found another key and how to change it.
This was all good and I installed SP2 and SP3 but this key will not install update because of a Windows Genuine Advantage check.
3. So, after finding a program called Jellybean. I put the original hard disk back in and looked up the product key already used on there.
4. Swapped the hard disk back again and changed the product key again.

The problem is it still fails the WGA check saying that the product key used has been blocked by Microsoft.
This doesn’t make sense to me as swapping the hard disks back over once again I am able to download updates without any problems.

Any ideas?

I’d like to be able to get Windows XP SP3 up and running with the correct product key and do something called streamlining the service packs to create a new legitimate XP SP3 CD before attempting a clean install on mums new (all be it second hand) computer.

Thank you.

TwistedPsycho

Any product key you find on Google is likely to be pirate just as much as the original.

Sounds like you might have to pay out for a new genuine "copy" of Windows, not many places sell XP now though

eprophet

But I don't understand why the product key seems to work without any problems on the original hard disk but is blocked on the new install.

I can only assume that the key is ok, but changing the 'dodgy' key for the 'ok' key somehow leaves something of the old key in the registry...because if the key being used is bad then how comes it behave the same way on both hard disks?

gaming_guy

....................

TwistedPsycho

I wonder if the key was blacklisted in one of the monthly WGA updates.

Blackjack_Davy

Keep an eye on eBay you can pick up genuine XP COA's for a about a tenner. They're usually pulled off the back of old DELL PC's etc and 99% of the time they're fine.

Why? Because DELL and other volume manufacturers install the OS using a generic key to activate thousands of PC's at once but each key on each PC is unique but is is never registered with Microsoft as most people never reinstall Windows during it's lifetime. I've had plenty of keys this way and they're all working fine SP3, WGA and all.

Hammyman

eprophet wrote: »

But I don't understand why the product key seems to work without any problems on the original hard disk but is blocked on the new install.

Because they're using WGA cracking software to fool WGA into thinking its a valid installation.

If the market trader is a regular there, I'd be standing in front of the stall shouting in a very loud voice that the Windows XP he put on the machine was pirated whilst in my hand would be my mobile and me dialling trading standards and reporting him to Microsoft.

Mr_Oink

I'd be pretty worried about just what other nasties that cracked XP has running in it, it's probably done you a favour to take itself down.

steveos

off the record....

One can find a WGA crack easy on many forums as you an find full M$ XP SP3 images.....it's not rocket science as they say


Now not that I am saying is right..but...is possible you understand...

What you have done to far re install is good, you just need that WGA validation crack :beer:

Mr_Oink

You probably can find Trojaned free cracked images of XP as 'steveos' says, but you need to look at it like this: Security is multi-faceted. Would you install a program that you knew to be malware just to save money?

As it is Microsoft operating systems are full of holes. What do you think the chances are of having a safe computing environment if you use an image that has been modified by some cracker? Would you feel happy to put your personal data through it?

Perhaps you have no money and can't afford to buy the genuine article - so stealing your bank details via a backdoor won't affect you. It would probably make you pretty unpopular if your friends emails are all harvested from your compromised 'free XP' computer. It may SERIOUSLY affect you if the machine becomes 'owned' by a botnet and is used in spaming or DDoS attacks. You'll probably get no sympathy from your ISP and may even find your provider terminates your internet access and holds you to term.

People who steal software don't consider if there is a backdoor - and there often is. If so, all of the above may apply. They also don't consider their documents, emails and even pictures of their kids can end up in the hands of perverts and criminals.

Kingsd316

WOW a lot of scare mongering here!

Anyway, just so you know i inadvertently purchased a laptop with a pirated copy of xp pro on it, and also got the counterfeit messages, i rang Microsoft about it, explained the situation and they actually sent me a new product key certificate attached to a piece of card with a new key on it, sometimes honesty is the best policy with these companies.