Genuine XP windows

accymel · 04-05-2006, 09:27

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 .

Does anyone know about this that can help

entwisi · 04-05-2006, 10:19

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.

accymel · 04-05-2006, 10:33

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

accymel · 04-05-2006, 10:45

Ah it says on the disk that you cant even lend the original

so looks like im a bit up s**ts creek without a paddle here- blaming Bill rolling in it Gates

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

entwisi · 04-05-2006, 11:09

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

accymel · 04-05-2006, 11:25

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

Neil · 04-05-2006, 11:30

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

accymel · 04-05-2006, 11:36

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?

Neil · 04-05-2006, 11:53

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

entwisi · 04-05-2006, 12:00

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

Tinkerbelle · 04-05-2006, 12:31

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

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?

entwisi · 04-05-2006, 12:44

<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!

Neil · 04-05-2006, 14:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

No dear, XP is the Operating System.

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

Tinkerbelle · 04-05-2006, 14:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

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

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

accymel · 04-05-2006, 14:21

Firefox is just a browser which works best seeing accyweb lol

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.