A couple of XP licence-related questions

[Martyuk39]

My laptop died - posted about it in tech support the other week.

I've taken the hard disk out and scratched together a desktop system and installed it as the primary drive - just so I can do a good backup, mainly by getting rid of junk. Anyway, it says it needs to be re-activated, because of all the hardware changes. I would like to know what would be the result if I were to attempt to activate - would I pass? And if I failed, would I be shut out completely? It's not a huge issue, since after backup I'm going to get an enclosure and use it as an external USB drive.

Second question - I bought a prebuilt system from Comet here in the UK for someone a couple of years ago. They've recently called me to say it's telling her it's a counterfeit copy of Windows. What should I/she do?

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

1st, don't set it as your main drive. If you have a desktop system, install XP on it and set it up correctly. Then you install the hard drive laptop as a slave, or go ahead and put it in the usb enclosure now. You can access it this way and get your files. I bet the activation will work, but when windows tries to install all the drivers it's going to flip out.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Martyuk39
Second question - I bought a prebuilt system from Comet here in the UK for someone a couple of years ago. They've recently called me to say it's telling her it's a counterfeit copy of Windows. What should I/she do?

Microsoft suggests three options:
1) Contact the builder of the PC and have them fix the problem. You paid for a computer with a "legal" copy of XP. They need to fix it.
2) Microsoft has an offer, at least in the U.S., to replace an invalid version with a valid one. But it's not free.
3) Buy a new copy of XP.

 

[Martyuk39]

I've already installed it as the main drive - planning on slimming down the data - it's easier to do that way - I can uninstall most of the apps etc etc. I had the drivers handy so it was a relatively painless operation. Of course I would have to be moving from ATI to Nvidia graphics, so it was a bit fussy there for a while, but no worse than changing a graphics card.

It says I have to activate within 3 days. Well it's the World Cup on Friday so I'd better get my skates on!

Reply to RebateMonger - I like the first option best, although who's going to pay for my time to back up and re-install with a legal copy? A re-install would mean a reformat. Could be an interesting battle...

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Martyuk39
Reply to RebateMonger - I like the first option best, although who's going to pay for my time to back up and re-install with a legal copy? A re-install would mean a reformat. Could be an interesting battle...

In the U.S., we have something called "Class Action Lawsuits". That's where a bunch of people join together to jointly sue the manufacturer. And, after it's settled, the lawyers get millions of dollars and the people who were hurt get a coupon for a free car wash. :disgust:

Fixing the problem MAY not require an OS re-install. Depending on the license type (OEM, OEM-Branded, Retail, or Volume), it may just mean entering a new License Key number.

 

[wirelessenabled]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: Martyuk39
Reply to RebateMonger - I like the first option best, although who's going to pay for my time to back up and re-install with a legal copy? A re-install would mean a reformat. Could be an interesting battle...

In the U.S., we have something called "Class Action Lawsuits". That's where a bunch of people join together to jointly sue the manufacturer. And, after it's settled, the lawyers get millions of dollars and the people who were hurt get a coupon for a free car wash. :disgust:

LMOA :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

I was "in" on the GM pickup truck exploding gas tank scheme where the lawyers got $250 million in cash and we got a coupon for $1000 off if we purchased a brand new GM pickup at full MSRP.

 

[Martyuk39]

I've received an email this morning - the user has suddenly and mysteriously remembered that she got someone to do a re-install after the kids messed up the pc with all kinds of rubbish. I'll bet whoever she got to do it couldn't be bothered to take the legitimate restore CD and used a dodgy copy. Probably a "corporate" one I imagine. Shame, I'll just have to reformat. Think I should charge my full hourly rate? Hehe.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Martyuk39
I've received an email this morning - the user has suddenly and mysteriously remembered that she got someone to do a re-install after the kids messed up the pc with all kinds of rubbish. I'll bet whoever she got to do it couldn't be bothered to take the legitimate restore CD and used a dodgy copy. Probably a "corporate" one I imagine. Shame, I'll just have to reformat. Think I should charge my full hourly rate? Hehe.

Yes

 

[jfunk]

You shouldn't have to do a reformat. You can change to a legit OEM key via a tool on Microsofts site. Search for it on here, there are several threads with links, or you can follow the prompts on their site from the failed check page.

 

[Martyuk39]

Even if the legal copy is an OEM version, and the (illegal) installed copy is a volume license one? Didn't know that - cheers