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Fake Windows XP disk

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  • Cases
  • Windows XP
Last response: in General UK & Ireland Discussions
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June 2, 2011 2:56:56 PM

My pc went for repair and had the windows xp removed and supposedly reinstalled.Ii was given an xp disk in case I needed it again by the repair shop. The pc went down again and I tried to reload xp but found that it was an illegal copy and does not work properly. The repair shop has now closed down and am unable to trace owners. Can anyone suggest what I can do other than purchase a new operating disk?

More about : fake windows disk

June 2, 2011 4:24:55 PM


Other operating systems are available and many are free of charge. It means getting used to a new way of doing things but it doesn't take long. Some can be run from LiveCDs without being installed so you can decide which you prefer. I'm talking about Linux and there will be plenty of good advice from the regulars on the Linux sub-Forum here at Tom's.

I personally prefer PCLinuxOS from the dotcom site of the same name but there are hundreds - Puppy and DamnSmallLinux are two smaller ones which work well on older machines.

That XP CD may not be a coffee coaster yet - can you not use the Repair facility to fix your problem. What happened when it "went down"?


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June 3, 2011 11:14:38 AM

hello there i have an operating system for you! Linux ubuntu (or any of the other versions of linux) if its gaming you want or just running Windows applications look up Wine in software centre (Windows Program Loader) it does not run every exe under the sun though like cracked versions of photoshop. but its a very fast and fun OS as you can play tetris as it installs :) 

here is a link to the download page: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download
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June 3, 2011 4:11:34 PM

Thanks for the advice. Since you have both suggested Linux I will look at that but I need it for more than games as I use it for a home based business. Do you think this program will be suitable for that?
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June 3, 2011 5:20:03 PM

What did you use originally, if it was XP Home, you must have the key on a sticker attached to the case or as a little booklet.

If so, then you could borrow a copy and sue your own key to reinstall.
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June 3, 2011 6:07:01 PM

das_stig said:

If so, then you could borrow a copy and sue your own key to reinstall.





Has that ever worked for you, Stig? Whenever I've tried it, if the key for that specific CD isn't entered, the installation stalls. You can only Change Product Key later if you're using a VLK.



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June 8, 2011 11:28:03 AM

Saga Lout said:
Has that ever worked for you, Stig? Whenever I've tried it, if the key for that specific CD isn't entered, the installation stalls. You can only Change Product Key later if you're using a VLK.


I've used the method das_stig used before with XP, Vista and 7 installation discs and it worked fine.

The key validation should done by algorithm rather than checking from a list of acceptable keys.
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June 10, 2011 12:32:25 PM

I don't have the original disk as it was pre installed on the computer. looks like I am going to be forced to shell out some more dosh for a new disk. Thanks for all your advice though guys, much appreciated.
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June 10, 2011 12:56:09 PM

Perhaps you missed what das_stig wrote:

"you must have the key on a sticker attached to the case or as a little booklet"

The point is that if you can borrow an installation disc you can use the key that was used previously. Your Windows purchase was for the key not for the installation disc.
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June 10, 2011 1:14:50 PM


I'm trying hard to keep an open mind on this but I tried only yesterday to reinstall Vista using my old Beta Tester's courtesy copy of RC1 in the hope of changing product Key later but without the code which is hard wired into that disk, the installation falls over. I'd love to know how you do this, Stig and Rusting and what I'm doing wrong. :D 


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June 10, 2011 1:27:55 PM

Well there you go. If the key is hardwired into that installation disc it's not the same as a standard release disc.
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June 10, 2011 2:48:35 PM


Every disk I've ever come across is the same - even my Co-operative VLK XP CD which M$ stopped when Vista came out.


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June 10, 2011 3:06:59 PM

And all these discs had the same version of Windows with the same service packs?
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June 10, 2011 6:21:34 PM


All these disks are every M$ disk I've ever come across since XP started out in 2001. I have yet to encounter a disk which will go past the Product Key input stage unless the key that's embedded in that disk and which goes on to generate the systems' unique PID, is input there and then. Making a mistake in just one character sends it into a loop until you put the right characters in.

If this wasn't the case, it would be possible to avoid Activation and lead to far more non-genuine pirate copies out there.

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June 17, 2011 8:03:09 AM

Best answer selected by jessie01.
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