wXP SP1 problem!

[noisedude]

right i'm usin a copy of XP Pro which my friend gave me, he pays for 5licences for his small business but only has 4 machines in the office. they're not connected to the net. so he made me a copy and said i could use it with his permission. so i am NOT USING WAREZ.

i built a new box recently and to get the USB 2.0 working i need to install SP1, problem is i ran it off a CD from a PC magazine and it says i'm running a pirated copy of windows and i can't install the updates! i checked the product key and it is correct, none of these machine have been connected to the net so in theory MS have never had this product key 'phone home' to them yet, so how come i can't do it?

can i get the usb 2 support without installing SP1?

i might just buy my own copy of XP Pro, get it OEM with a new HDD. in that case, can i change the product key or do i have to start from scratch all over which is a huge job with my setup?? i feel cheated cos i'm playing by the book not like all the warez users getting away with copyright murder

[jmichna]

Perhaps your friend went through some sort of "product activation" procedure, and submitted user/company identity unique to his 5 license key.

Even though you are using an available 5th license, if your user/company identity don't match what he previously submitted, that may be where the hang-up occurs.

What happens if you use the same user/company info that your friend uses?

I recall reading articles regarding changing the license key once you've got your own copy, but I can't seem to find that info right now... I'll post back if I find it. Maybe try a google search on "key change" "license key change" + WindowsXP, etc. Maybe a call to the Evil Empire itself.

PS: Aside for your immediate situation, even though there is an available 5th license, I'm not sure you are really in compliance with the whole "group license EULA" legalities.

You don't have to have all licensed machines in the same location and they don't have to have all the same information for activating either.

This page gives you tons of info about activation. If it's really a valid copy of XP, just call them over the phone and activate it that way.

BTW, what's the key you're using, does it start w/ FCKGW ?

[noisedude]

it was an OEM copy of windows bought with parts for new machines. therefore it doesn't need a product activation code, just the normal product key.

the key starts FCKGW, yes, why what does that mean?

would rather not give full product key here for obvious reasons!

windows accepted the key, it's installed and working fine, i'm on it now, but SP1 refuses to install. i don't get how this can work.

[noisedude]

sorry, for clarity, to my knowledge in the UK it's only retail boxed copies of windows that use the activation key thing. my installation was a normal old-fashioned type in the number off the cd case and away you go, and that worked fine at the time.

It's NOT an OEM copy of Windows XP. It's a pirated copy, that's why he gave you a key the started w/ FCKGW.

I would imagine the whole thing goes something like . . .

FCKGW RHQQ2 YXRKT 8TG6W 2B7Q8

SP1 is never going to work w/ that copy. You need to go get yourself a legal copy and then SP1 will work.

[noisedude]

dammit dammit. thanks loads mr evilrick cos i seriously do not want to be using warez at all. that's so bizarre cos i've seen the original key on the box and it looked genuine

right it's time to stretch my student overdraft that little bit further and get my own copy. you can't trust anyone these days!

i'm really mortified cos not since my w95 days as a teenager have i used a pirated copy of anything, let alone windows. i use this machine in a small recording studio and i've shelled out for the £500+ software for that.

hope my reputation isn't too badly ruined by this.

If your friend indeed paid for that, he needs to report them to Microsoft

[stroyal]

My OEM copy of XP needs to be activated just like my retail copy here in the US

[noisedude]

fair enough i understood that only people buying a boxed version of XP would need to do the product activation rubbish. that's certainly what others i know have experienced over here.

the friend in question is in charge of a local charity that does youthwork and care for the elderly - everything he has comes via donations either of money or of equipment, software etc. i know he's honest but obviously someone down the chain isn't.

right so when i buy a copy of XP proper can i change my product key? basically i have raid drivers etc i really dont wanna re-install. if i buy XP now is there a chance it will have newer patches etc and so fool itself into 'upgrading' my existing windows? it took me ages to get this one set up.