[stillbaddad]

Hiya all,
java script:emoticon('', 'smid_8')
My neighbour had a problem with her PC as it was cutting out all of the time. Her PC came with an original XP CD and Key, which she still has.

However, due to the fault with her computer she took it into a shop for repair. She was informed by the assaistant, that he believed the fault to be a program fault. So he informed her that he would re load XP for her, however he used his own disk and what i believe to be an illegal CD key
Knowing no better she allowed him to overlay his copy of XP onto her system. Now she cannot get any updates from microsoft, and has been booted out of the microsoft site due to Authentication Problems.

I have checked her computer for her and have found that there are 2 copies of XP on her system, 1 the original and 2 the illegal copy.

The Question is a simple one. How can i remove the Illegal copy without touching the original and loosing all of her information.

(By the way, when he put his copy on he also disabled the SYSTEN RESTORE. This has now been corrected but will now only show 3 days of restore.)

Thank you very much.

Shaun

[Advertisements]

IF you have a legal COA (that number on the sticker from microsoft) you could preform a repair installation of XP with the disk that she has...during the repair it will ask for the COA...put in the one that came with the PC

Repair the Windows XP installation.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Make sure that the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is the first priority startup device.
  See your computer documentation for information about how to do this.
• Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer.
• When the instruction to "Press any key to boot from CD" appears, press a key. Your computer starts from the Windows XP CD.
• When the computer starts from the CD, the system verifies your hardware, and then prompts you to select one of the following options:
  

  - To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER
  - To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
  - To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

• Press ENTER.
• Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.
• A box lists your current Windows XP installation, and then the computer prompts you to select one of the following options:
  

  - To repair the selected Windows XP installation, press R.
  - To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing, press ESC.

• Press R.

You'll get to keep your existing apps & settings, but you need to re-install SP2, Windows Updates & any unsigned drivers afterwards.
NOTE: Be aware that you'll lose any protection from Blaster / Sasser type worms. Don't go online without a firewall, whether the built in Windows one or 3rd party.

How to Perform A Re-Install Of XP

[dsenette]

IF you have a legal COA (that number on the sticker from microsoft) you could preform a repair installation of XP with the disk that she has...during the repair it will ask for the COA...put in the one that came with the PC

Repair the Windows XP installation.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Make sure that the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is the first priority startup device.
  See your computer documentation for information about how to do this.
• Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer.
• When the instruction to "Press any key to boot from CD" appears, press a key. Your computer starts from the Windows XP CD.
• When the computer starts from the CD, the system verifies your hardware, and then prompts you to select one of the following options:
  

  - To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER
  - To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
  - To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

• Press ENTER.
• Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.
• A box lists your current Windows XP installation, and then the computer prompts you to select one of the following options:
  

  - To repair the selected Windows XP installation, press R.
  - To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing, press ESC.

• Press R.

You'll get to keep your existing apps & settings, but you need to re-install SP2, Windows Updates & any unsigned drivers afterwards.
NOTE: Be aware that you'll lose any protection from Blaster / Sasser type worms. Don't go online without a firewall, whether the built in Windows one or 3rd party.

How to Perform A Re-Install Of XP