Not genuine.

[Stewards enquiry]

A friend of mine bought a second hand computer a few months ago and suddenly after downloading the latest update from Microsoft got a message that the copy of windows was not genuine. It is supposed to be Windows XP Professional. If she gets a new copy of XP Professional will she just be able to load it into her computer or will she have to start from scratch and where will she get the best deal from if she buys a new copy?

[bigcumba]

sounds like it was a pirated copy that had been installed... there aren't really any cheap deals to be had on XP Pro as it tends to be a standard price everywhere - you can get it here from Dabs.com

first is the OEM edition which is supposed to be supplied only with a new PC - you don't get any manuals or anything with this

http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=3TSL&CategorySelectedId=11168&NavigationKey=11168,4294958988&InMerch=1

Second is the full retail version.... a lot more expensive but you can be sure you have it fully licensed.

http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=39HF&CategorySelectedId=11168&NavigationKey=11168,4294958988&InMerch=1


one last thing she could do is actually speak to Microsoft to find out the best way forward - they'll be happy to sort it out for her.

[Win2Win]

...or try eBay

[mathare]

first is the OEM edition which is supposed to be supplied only with a new PCNot strictly true there BigC.

OEM software should only be supplied with hardware components and sites like Ebuyer and Dabs will probably prevent you buying OEM software without also purchasing a couple of bits of hardware. But this could be a new MoBo, HDD or what have you. You don't need to buy a new PC to get OEM.

OEM software is aimed at self-builders or those who build PCs to sell on. They put OEM software on to reduce costs rather than buy a fuly-boxed retail copy.

As you say though, no manuals etc. Just the installation CD and a licence number. All perfectly legal though. And it may be cheaper to get XP as OEM along with a cheap new MoBo or something and just forget about the MoBo and just use the software.

[Win2Win]

I always get OEM from www.savastore.com without buying anything else.

[Win2Win]

PS. The new windows is coming out in 3 months so not worth buying XP

[glynners]

I always get OEM from www.savastore.com without buying anything else.

I used this one but there are many sites where u can get OEM software without buying any hardware, just bang it in google


PS. The new windows is coming out in 3 months so not worth buying XP

Knowning Microsoft though the new windows will be full of holes for the first 2 years so I'd still go for XP at the moment, at least its fairly stable at the moment

[Win2Win]

All software is full of holes!

[GlosRFC]

PS. The new windows is coming out in 3 months so not worth buying XP

Just one drawback - she'd need a pretty powerful machine to run Vista, the replacement for XP. To get the best from Vista, you need:

1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor.
1 GB of system memory.
A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero.
128 MB of graphics memory.
40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
DVD-ROM Drive.
Audio output capability.
Internet access capability.http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capable.mspx

A beta version of Office 2007 has also been released which requires pretty similar specs http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/beta/getthebeta.mspx

[Win2Win]

I have more than twice all that, so I'l run two :doh

[Jammey]

got message on p.c.to say (you may be a victim of software counterfeting)i phoned microsoft windows,but no nelp as they told me to phonethe manufacture,but i have had the p.c. some while and this fault (error number ox800booo1 occured)while i was trying to download betangel basic.would some ANGEL help please,also i have lost my licence number.
help
jammey

[Win2Win]

If you've lost the license number you're pretty knackered......problem with the 'Genuine' script is that it also catches out legit copies, and is a pain to remove (but can be done).

The Betangel thing is a seperate issue, and happens to some.

[GlosRFC]

Try this utility to disable/remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notification

http://www.tweakness.net/showfiles.php?fid=1472

[GlosRFC]

And this utility should be able to retrieve your Windows serial number from your registry

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

[Win2Win]

I had to use similar scripts on my mates comp last week, MS are just being a pain, especially as they have a new verison out soon.