Windows XP- Pirated VErsion

[calebgroup]

Hi All,

I bought a custom built laptop from a guy in CA and it came with Windows XP Pro.

Well today i realized that I had the Blaster Worm virus and tried to download some security updates from Microsoft website. When I did, a message came up saying that my version of Windows XP is pirated and it stopped the process. I went and bought a version from the local university. Do I have to reinstall everything now? or can I use the correct service/product key to fix this problem?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Gil

[bigandy]

You're probably better off just backing up anything from the HD that you want to keep, and then doing a clean install of XP. Especially since this way there is no question that your OS is legit.

[crjdriver]

If it is running fine and you do not want to reinstall, here is the mskb article on how to change the product key. Use your new key and you will be able to install sp1a, etc.

[calebgroup]

I'm gonna go ahead and give that a try crjdriver.

Thank you.

[SamuraiWarrior]

How can you get your pirated version to be not recognized as a pirated version with this process. If you can doesn't this defeat MS purpose of activating windows to avoid people using pirated copy's of their software.

[crjdriver]

Wel,l you have to have a valid product key. The only way to get the VALID key is to buy a lic or the software.

[crjdriver]

John here is the mskb article on sp4 and usb. I have installed approx 50 slipstreamed sp4 os and never had to install usb 2.0; only on the systems that I updated to sp4 without a full slipstreamed install. I will look some more for the xp article.

[crjdriver]

Ok, that last one went to the wrong thread. See what happens when you get old and have too many windows open.