Formatting HD preferring to upgrade good XP - wishing for counsel

[Jerry101]

Greetings Comrades, - if this is too “long” please just skim it and go to the several questions at the end. Thanks.

I have not posted a “problem” in a while. I have had a zillion postings on the former Anand board – but have started anew, with a new registration, on this one.
Over a year ago, I purchased a pre owned, high quality stand alone computer (asus A8n-SLI MB, etc.)
Win XP was up and running. The fellow backed up the XP OS and system with Ghost 12. When I swapped out to new hard drives, Microsoft seemed to kill the reboot sequence..
I have a separate perfectly good, original copy and new, valid, never used CD key of Win XP, which was actually sent to me by microsoft, in appreciation of the beta testing I did on the XP creation project.

My wanting to keep the original settings and not hassle with drivers, etc, I have tried to “upgrade” by using the original disk with a slipstream to SP3. MS, on-line, congratulated me, that I had successfully activated XP. Then a short time later, a message about genuine Windows being unsuccessful.

I have Ghosted and reinstalled many times, and am tired of it. I cannot use Windows 7, as per the MS analyzer, so I will stay with XP.

My impression is that the original / prior XP install was not legal, from MS’s perspective, or whatever. And that the fellow had used Ghost to get by without MS stopping him.

I have no interest in non valid operating system installs. I don’t have the time or the intention to do anything unacceptable or illegal.

My question(s) are, -

It is my impression that the remaining potential alternative is to format the system (and loose settings, etc.) and then newly install my valid XP copy. Does that seem the only alternative at this point, short of elaborate or exotic activation bypasses.

I do not see why an “upgrade” reinstall to a new and valid “cd key” would not work. Does MS see an old and potentially invalid version and not allow a new and valid version of XP.

Is my good and valid XP CD key now blacklisted ???

Is the entire hardware of my computer unit (some kind of CPU ID or something) now “blacklisted” in some way, - so that if I went out and even bought a brand new, sealed, XP, from a vendor, or whomever, that I could not install it on this computer ?

Thanks, Jerry

 

[bruceb]

You can change the key .. see link
But if you suspect the original OS is not proper / legit
you might want a fresh install. Who knows if something
is in there that should not be ? ?

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/ht/changexpkey.htm

 

[RebateMonger]

You might want to find out why the original copy isn't Activating.

Go to this forum and download the MGA Diagnostic tool, run it, and then post the results in a new thread on that Forum. They'll be able to tell you what the problem is and may have suggestions on how to best fix it.

http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindowsxp/threads

The Diagnostics Tool is located here:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

 

[Jerry101]

An interim thank you to you both for your response input. I had a power outage and am, just now, gaining access to this thread.

I will proceed (and do welcome all further input) with your suggestions and return to the thread asap.

This is a note, in case anyone on the East Coast, nearing bed time, might gather the consideration that I was not attentive and appreciative.

Jerry