XP Produck Key Issue

BackOnTrack

If you have bought a PC with what you believed to be a genuine copy of the OS microsoft will usually provide you with a new product key and disc free of charge. You will need to co-operate with the microsoft investigation and will need to provide details of where it was bought from etc. but microsoft seem pretty reasonable about this sort of thing. Might be worth a try.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/help/genuine/faq

DatabaseError

Xp is old, lacks certain security features, and is pretty much unsupported nowadays (and it's only gonna get worse for it). I suggest you BUY a copy of windows 7, and report the market guy as he's making money by selling you stuff he doesn't have the right to sell. Perhaps even insist he pays part towards the cost of a genuine 7 disk.

Mr_Oink

Kingsd316 wrote: »

WOW a lot of scare mongering here!
.

Really? Cracked and Malware infested pirated software is not an issue then?

There is a world of difference between an genuine install where the same key have been used too many times - and a cracked image with God knows what else in the mix.

My response was to the latter, which some spanner suggested 'off the record' to the OP.

eprophet

gaming_guy wrote: »

If you slipstream SP3 into an XP installation disk and then try to install it with the blacklisted key(s), the install will probably fail saying something along the lines of 'invalid product key' and will not allow you to install windows.

That is something I was wondering myself. I don't know much about slipstreaming (I just happened upon it whilst searching for a solution to this issue).
I am unsure of what product key the slipstream CD would want to use.

Will it use the key off the dodgy XP CD (no service packs), or the key from the current install (with SP3)?

eprophet

TwistedPsycho wrote: »

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

Thats an interesting thought. But I don't think so (I don't know though) because I downloaded updates for the good install last night (25 in total).

eprophet

Hammyman wrote: »

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

Do you know how can I tell if there really is WGA cracking software on there?

Hammyman wrote: »

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.

He was not the this weekend so I'm guessing I'll never see him again...I wonder why! I would not be brave enough to confront someone anyway.

eprophet

Thank you all who suggested cracks but I really don't want to put anything on that could potentially harm mum pc. I really do want to get it to the point of a clean install with the correct product key (assuing now that is has got a legitimate key).

I can see only 2 options from here (more suggestion would be appreciated).

1. Try Microsoft as suggested above.
Although, having no reciept, I cannot see them happily handing over a new CD and product key.

2. Leave it well alone and hope that in its current state it is stable enough not to worry.

I told dad it was silly to buy a computer from a market but he saw what he thought was a bargin and couldn't resist.

spannerzone

hehehe there's some great answers given here!

Using Google for keys, using cracks, blimey like someone already said, XP is potentially open to risks with a genuine up to date patched system, lord only knows what you're letting yourself in for if using cracked/hacked/warzed versions.

Geez it's a bit scary that any such advise is given at all on a forum like this.

The only sensible solution is to immedietly reformat and reload Windows and get a legitimate COA.

lucylucky

Reformat it and bung on Linux - no cost at all.:D

spakkker

If I turn off auto updates and a couple of other windows features on my pc Avira flags these settings as virus/malware. Who's paying who to label something as malware ?