A note to persons running illegal copies of Windows XP

[Ian(not Ian)]

Well with me i have had many hardrive crashes and problems that required me to reinstall windows xp


The problem was after so many times it would not let me install it anymore even though the fact it was a legitimate copy so i got a hack so i could install it

next time you re-install ring M$ on the number you see on the install screen. The nice people will give you a new license key over the 'phone.

[Bredrin]

http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/

Saves using windowsupdate.

Or try http://www.autopatcher.com/

Bundles all the monthly updates in one installer. Very good.

[sj33]

Here's a few questions.

Various sites on the net sell OEM XP Home for ~?50. I don't mind paying that, even if it is only until next Feb.

1) What's the difference between XP Home and Pro?

2) Any disadvantage to going OEM?

3) What's this activation lark? If I understand correctly, you must contact MS every time you upgrade your machine - very sucky for a person who is always getting new parts.
The illigal version does not have this activation stuff - can I buy XP but use my key on an illigal copy, thus not have to go through that crap? I'd of paid for it after all, so there's nothing wrong.

[J0e Musashi]

Will my system really fail then or will I just keep on getting the nag screen? I'm sure I've had this update for over a week and I'm yet to experience any problems other than keep on having to close the box every so often. What happens if it does fail? Can't I just reinstall the same disc? I only use this PC for browsing anyway.

[$c8t@]

Here's a few questions.

Various sites on the net sell OEM XP Home for ~?50. I don't mind paying that, even if it is only until next Feb.

1) What's the difference between XP Home and Pro?

2) Any disadvantage to going OEM?

3) What's this activation lark? If I understand correctly, you must contact MS every time you upgrade your machine - very sucky for a person who is always getting new parts.
The illigal version does not have this activation stuff - can I buy XP but use my key on an illigal copy, thus not have to go through that crap? I'd of paid for it after all, so there's nothing wrong.

1. Home = 1 CPU / Pro = Mutli CPU Support

Home Is Missing A Few "Admin" / Policy Editors Etc
Remote Desktop / Dynamic Disk Support and Something Else To Do With Recovery, ASR If I Remeber Rightly

2. No Support From Microsoft

Hello Is It Retail - "How Can I Help" / Hello "Is It OEM - Yes, "CLICK"......

3. The Whole Point Of Activation Was 1 Copy Of Windows with 1 Key On One Machine (IE So You Dont Chip In With Ya Mates, Buy 1 Copy and Install It On 10 Machines)

Once Activated, You Cant Activate It From Another Machine Because IT Makes A Product ID Based On The Components In Your Computer.. Thats Where ALL The Crap Starts...

You Dont Have To Activate Everytime You Swap a component, IT Works On A Point System... (KIND OF)... Small Things Like HDD / Memory Etc Dont Carry Much Value...You Change the Motherboard And they Claim Its a Whole New Machine - Infact Now, If You Change The Mobo They Wan You To BUY A Whole New Copy Of Windows... For Some Strange Reason Its fussy About NIC's Too...

The Illegal Versions Arent Exactly "Illegal" They Are Just Corperate disks With Generated Keys...

For Example... A MAssive Company Has 1000 Brand New Machines.. All Need XP Pro Installing... Imagine The Ballache Installing Windows 1000 Times, Then Activating, Then Changing Something, Then Activating Again... Pointless... They'll Buy One Corp Key... Make A Ghost Image, And Fly Round With It..

So The Corporate Version Was Made... No Activation, No Hassle...

You Will Find That You Can Only Use Certain Keys For Certain Install Disks... OEM Dont Work With Retail / Retail Dont Work With Corp ETC ETC

$c8t@

[$c8t@]

Will my system really fail then or will I just keep on getting the nag screen? I'm sure I've had this update for over a week and I'm yet to experience any problems other than keep on having to close the box every so often. What happens if it does fail? Can't I just reinstall the same disc? I only use this PC for browsing anyway.

It Supposedly Comes On For 14-Days...

After That, Who Knows?

You Could Re-Install Yes... But You'll Only End Up In The Same Boat... Even If You Don't Install the WGA Update... You Still Have To Validate Your Copy Of Windows For Service Pack 2 Etc...

[sj33]

All sounds like a royal pain in the ass.

Bottom line, this will work fine, right? http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/66489/rb/18880007734 It's much cheaper than the retail box.

[$c8t@]

All sounds like a royal pain in the ass.

Bottom line, this will work fine, right? http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/66489/rb/18880007734 It's much cheaper than the retail box.

Yes IT Will Work Fine But It MUST Be Bought With A Pice Of Hardware... IE Hard Drive... (To Fall In With The Licensing For OEM Software... Some Places Sell It Without... Thats Upto Them)... Best Bet Is A ?2 Ps2 mouse Or Something

As I Mentioned Before, the Only Difference Is You Cannot Call Microsoft for Support... Technet / Google... Why ring Them lol!

$c8t@

[sj33]

One other thing, you say Home only supports 1 CPU - I assume dual-core CPU's like the Athlon X2 are still, in actualty, 1 CPU, thus work fine?

[randombs]

does anyone actually ring ms? personally i've never needed to - i just go on forums, etc.

[randombs]

One other thing, you say Home only supports 1 CPU - I assume dual-core CPU's like the Athlon X2 are still, in actualty, 1 CPU, thus work fine?

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Weblets/0,,7832_8366_7595~95364,00.html

that's AMD's view on the whole thing. Says it's fine, but doesn't seem to mention whether it simply means it will work with the cpu in single-core mode or if it will work with both cores

[$c8t@]

One other thing, you say Home only supports 1 CPU - I assume dual-core CPU's like the Athlon X2 are still, in actualty, 1 CPU, thus work fine?

Yup

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/highlights/multicore.mspx

[EvilBoris]

My friend got the "blue star of doom" last week, he had to go and purchase a legit copy

[wod]

i never update my xp as i never have any problems with it

[importaku]

I installed a service pack, it totally ****ed up my system. Graphics were messing up & it kept freezing, plus lots of other problems.

I removed it all & never bothered updating since. Oh & my copy is legit too.