Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (
More info?)
Some Fred wrote:
> On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 19:22:45 +0100, "John Barnett MVP"
> <freelanceit@mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote:
>
>>Buy a legit copy (which should now also contain SP2) and then
>>reinstall the new copy to your friend's pc. I certainly wouldn't be
>>relying upon a pirated copy even with a legitimate product code number
>>from a new purchase.
>
> BTW, I did some more reading on the issue, and here's what I seem to
> have understood:
>
> 1. Using the Product Key (serial number on the back of the CD jewel
> case) and a unique hashed number based on the different components
> that make up the computer (CPU, MAC address of NIC, etc.), XP
> generates a unique number
>
> 2. Within 30 days after installing XP, you must activate this copy by
> contacting MS, either through the Internet directly, or by calling a
> phone number
>
> 3. Whatever the means of contacting MS, you will provide this unique
> number.
>
> MS will first check whether you used a well-known leaked key as
> Product Key; if yes, it will stop right there, and activation will
> fail.
>
> If this seems like a legitimate Product Key, MS will next check
> whether this key has already been used in combination with a different
> hardware hask key to activate a copy of XP (ie. you gave a friend your
> CD and its Product Key, and he's trying to install it on his
> computer), activation will also fail, as one license = one computer.
>
> 4. From this, it follows that if my friend goes to the computer store
> to buy a legitimate copy of XP, he can just use a software to change
> the Product Key in his pirated install of XP, and will successfully
> activate it.
>
> Am I right?
>
> Thank you
> Fred.
Yes. That's why I gave you the link to Michael Stevens' site. Yes, your
friend is going to do a Repair Install. The In-place Upgrade that
Michael references lower down on the page needs you to be able to be in
Windows and start the installation from there. That's why I asked you
if your friend could even get into Safe Mode. If your friend can't,
then he'll do the Repair Install as described by Michael; i.e., boot
with the legitimate retail Windows XP cd.
Caveat - Even though a Repair Install usually goes well and you are able
to keep all your programs, data, etc. sometimes Ugly Stuff Happens. You
should consider booting your friend's machine with Knoppix or a Bart's
PE and backing up his data first. Since you mentioned Linux, you
probably know all about Knoppix, but in case you don't here's the info:
An easy way to retrieve Windows files is to boot with Knoppix, a Linux
distro on a live cd. You will need a computer with two cd drives, one
of which is a cd/dvd-rw OR a usb thumb drive with enough capacity to
hold your data. To get Knoppix, you need a computer with a fast
Internet connection and third-party burning software. Download the
Knoppix .iso from www.knoppix.net and create your bootable cd. Then
boot with it and it will be able to see the Windows files. If you will
be using the usb thumb drive to copy your data, plug it in before you
boot the system with Knoppix. Otherwise, use the K3b burning program to
burn the files to cd/dvd-r's.
Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
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