Converting an unlicensed copy of Windows XP to a legally, licensed version
If you have been using an unlicensed copy of Windows XP, Home, Professional, Corporate, or Media version, you already know that Manual Windows Updates and optional Windows XP enhancements and driver updates are not available to you. You may have turned on Automatic Windows Updates to at least receive security patches. You may also be one of the millions of users of unlicensed installations of Windows XP to receive the WGA Piracy popup notices, when you login, and while you are using your computer. You may already know the one I mean. It says:
"This copy of Windows is not genuine; you may be a victim of software counterfeiting." The popups notices will continue to occur until such time as the computer owner installs a valid license code, which may require a phone call to Microsoft support.
In a previous article on this blog I covered the situation in depth, along with temporary workarounds and a permanent solution. This article deals with and recaps the better, permanent solution. Click on the Continue Reading link below, for the full details.
You may try to temporarily disable the popup piracy notices, but they will eventually find a way back onto your computer, and you will be denied necessary updates and driver updates. You could go on fighting this inevitable losing war, or take my recommendation and follow the advise below.
Alternate and better solution:
Purchase a licensed copy of Windows (XP) matching the (unlicensed) version you already have installed, and either boot from the CD and reinstall Windows on top of itself, using the "R" repair option, or change the license code to the legitimate code, using the Windows Activation utility. Tiger Direct sells legal, never before licensed copies of most versions of Windows at a considerable discount, and very cheap shipping charges. View all versions of Windows Operating Systems available from TigerDirect
If you do purchase a legal copy try running the Windows Activation Wizard (Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools) with the phone option, then click on "Change Product Code", input your legal codes and submit it for approval. If you have trouble changing the registration codes using the Activation Wizard, you can try phoning Microsoft Activation Support using the numbers supplied for your country on the Activation Wizard. You must have the current registration codes displayed on the Wizard to get a new set of numbers, along with the product ID on the new XP sticker that you got with the CD.
Alternately, if there are no registration numbers displayed on the Activation Wizard screen, put the new XP CD in the CD tray and reboot. Be sure you have set your BIOS to boot from a bootable CD first. To enter your BIOS try pressing Delete, or F1, or F2 while the computer starts to reboot, right at the first boot screen, where the Bios information is displayed. There will be a tab for Boot Options. Make sure the first boot device is set to your primary CD drive.
If the BIOS has been set to boot from a CD first you will see a text message on-screen telling you to press any key if you want to boot from the CD. You only get a few seconds to decide, so watch for this message and press any key that you want. Windows Setup will begin. Eventually Setup will stop and tell you that it has found a current installation of Windows and show you the location. It will offer three options: Repair installation, Fresh Installation, or F3 to Exit Setup. Press R to repair your installation. This will preserve all of your programs and settings, although you may need to repair/reinstall your anti virus program or some other touchy applications. You will also have to download all Windows Updates after setup has completed.
Early in the Repair Installation process you will arrive at the Product ID input fields. Type in all of your new, legal codes and continue with Setup. Once Setup has completed you will get to your Welcome Screen. No matter which account you try to log into you will have to Activate Windows XP before entering the Desktop. If you are online on broadband, and your firewall doesn't block communications before the desktop appears, Activation should proceed instantly. If it doesn't, use the phone option, speaking or entering numbers into your phone, or ask to speak to a human ("Use other means"). This will take a few minutes, but you will be legally registered when you get off the phone.
Be sure to run Windows Updates ASAP, becaue the Repair Installation wipes out your previous updates.
This is really the best solution, since you won't have to worry about being denied any more updates, or deal with popup notices about running an unlicensed copy of Windows. You will no longer be a "victim of counterfeiting."
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