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11-28-2003, 07:33 PM
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#1 |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 18
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Pirated OS
Please help, this is driving me crazy!
I bought a computer from a friend of mine but I soon found out that he sold me a computer with a pirated OS (Win XP Pro). How do I get rid of this pirated OS and start "fresh" with a new OS? Now, I need a new harddrive for my computer so one option would be to install the new hd and install a legit OS (and throw out the old hd). BUT, since I'll be starting with a virgin harddrive and I never had a legit OS to begin with, am I stuck with having to buy a full version of a new OS? Once I install the new harddrive, will my motherboard have any evidence of a pirated OS on it? Also, if I buy a full legit OS version (Win XP Pro for example), will I have to first download the system boot disks from Microsoft so I can format my new drive? Please help! This is driving me crazy! Sorry for the long post but all I want to know is how do I get rid of a pirated OS and install a new OS, complete with boot disks. Thanks!!!! |
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11-28-2003, 07:50 PM
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#2 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,437
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Many people like go get into that situation. There is a provision to change the product key with a genuine one. Contact Microsoft. You will pay for a new product key.
If they want more than $138, then just by a new OEM version and reinstall. The whole OS installs from the CD ROM. No boot disks necessary.
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11-28-2003, 07:51 PM
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#3 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: May 2000
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 546
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Hi,
As you say, you never had a legit OS, so you cannot legally use an upgrade CD since you still won't have a license. I cannot see how the motherboard would store anything - however I guess things change so someone else may disagree. If you buy the full version of WinXP Pro you won't need anything else - it will boot from the CD and you go from there (same for, at least, every MS OS since Win95 if I recall correctly). You may have to change the boot order in your BIOS to get it to boot from the CD (I usually go FDD - CD - HDD in that order). Just try it once you have the legit CD and if it doesn't boot from it, then go into BIOS and make the change. I alway suggest that order, but some people ignore the FDD - matter of opinion I guess, but I normally feel that it is not really that much trouble to take a floppy out of the drive before re-booting. HTH, David. Last edited by David_Jones; 11-28-2003 at 08:27 PM. |
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11-28-2003, 07:51 PM
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#4 | |||||
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Shiro Usagi
Premium Member
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii
Posts: 34,002
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Re: Pirated OS
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11-28-2003, 07:52 PM
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#5 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: OHIO
Posts: 586
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whoops, edit, just saw 5 other posts on the subject with my same answer.
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11-29-2003, 11:04 PM
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#6 |
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Member (7 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: LA
Posts: 101
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Dude the code is the same if its pirated or not so what I reccomend is buying the license, its essentially clearing the pirated name from your OS and you do not have to worry.
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11-30-2003, 09:12 AM
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#7 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Shakopee MN
Posts: 1,293
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While buying a license only can be useful in some situations, it is most likely that Daedalus FB needs more than just the license, they probably need a XP install disk too. I'd bet that the PC did not come with a 'real' OS disk.
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Never Argue With An Idiot. They'll Drag You Down To Their Level And Then Beat You With Experience. |
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11-30-2003, 10:44 AM
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#8 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Marlow,N.H.
Posts: 1,273
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If you buy the full version installation disk it will come with a licence. Then you will have the disk in the event you need to use it. All you will have to do is change the licence key...then your os will stay intact, along with any personal data or programs. No need to zero fill, or reinstall the os...changing the key is much easier.
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11-30-2003, 11:08 AM
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#9 |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 18
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I should have mentioned that I do own an oem Win98 with bootable disks (this is installed on an older computer that is currently being used by my parents).
Instead of buying a new harddrive (this one still has some life left in it it), I was told I can just format the one I have now using my legit Win98 boot disks and 98 CD. Once my hd is formatted, I can go out and buy an XP upgrade and just install it. The upgrade will detect the 98 version from the boot disks and I'm good to go! I don't even have to fully install Win98. Does this sound about right? (the computer my parents are using now with the Win98 is going into the garbage soon. Since I'm technically not installing Win98 on my current computer, can I still use the 98 boot disks to get the XP upgrade?) |
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11-30-2003, 11:13 AM
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#10 | |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,557
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11-30-2003, 03:26 PM
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#11 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Kansas
Posts: 491
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There's an easier way. Just boot from the XP upgrade CD and do the partitioning and formatting with its utilities. At some point during the installation, it will ask for proof you own a previous qualifying version of Windows. You just put the Win98 CD in the drive and once it's happy you have a previous version, it will continue with the XP install.
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11-30-2003, 03:39 PM
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#12 |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 18
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That sounds easy enough, Miz. So once I do that, there will be no evidence of ever having a pirated OS? Microsoft can't "trace" it back to me?
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11-30-2003, 11:43 PM
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#13 |
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Techphile.
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Francisco Bay
Posts: 5,962
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It's nice to see a reformed pirate go legit. Just like Jack London's 'Tales of the Fish Patrol' ....effectively going from an oyster pirate to a game warden.
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12-01-2003, 09:14 AM
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#14 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Marlow,N.H.
Posts: 1,273
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the only thing that is "pirated" is your key...once the key is changed there will be no way to trace where your os came from.
I still think you are trying to do way too much to resolve your "problem". Even if you buy an upgrade disc, all you need to do is change the key in the registry. Reformatting and installing win98 and upgrading is simply not neccesary. Microsoft has no reason to try to trace your steps, nor would they bother. They are looking for the folks selling pirated os, not victims like you. Don't be in such a fuss about this, you are not going to be jailed....no one will ever know except us here at PCMechanic!! |
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12-01-2003, 02:41 PM
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#15 | |
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The Preacher Man
Premium Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Dallas
Posts: 4,828
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12-01-2003, 04:21 PM
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#16 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Marlow,N.H.
Posts: 1,273
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nothin' fishy here....if Daedalus FB buys the upgrade, he will have paid for the licence. what's the difference?
granted, the os was installed illegally. but I would think even Microsoft would rule buying a licence or an upgrade makes it right...yes? the very fact that we are having this discussion proves his intensions....I'm just trying to save a lot of unneccesary steps... If you are in doubt, contact M$ about it. Last edited by Dan; 12-01-2003 at 04:26 PM. |
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12-01-2003, 10:00 PM
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#17 |
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The Preacher Man
Premium Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Dallas
Posts: 4,828
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What I use everytime I reinstall the upgrade is some old floppies from Win 3.1.
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