WindowsXP SP2 Installation

[Dean Fraiquin]

Hi,

After hours of sorting out Mother-in-Law's virused PC, finally got it all
back to how it should. Managed to get the necessary security updates from
Windows Update to block the trojan intrusion. However, next time I accessed
the Windows Update site, SP2 was the only Update applicable. I duly
downloaded this and tried to install - Came back with the error:

Cannot validate this copy of XP (or something to that effect).

So i checked the version using the "Is this copy of Windows legal" option.

Again, came back with a similar error.

The PC was bought second-hand with XP Pro already installed - I believe it
was from a job lot of computers a university was selling.

How can I get SP2 to install/validate the existing version of XP?


Many thanks for anticipated assistance.

Kind regards,

Dean Fraiquin

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

It appears there is an illegal, pirated version of Windows XP
Professional installed on the computer. The only thing you
can do is to purchase a "Full Version" of Windows XP Pro
and perform a "Repair Install". Illegal versions of XP are
not entitiled to service pack updates.

You receive a "The product key used to install Microsoft Windows may not be valid"
error message when you try to install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;883254

Unable to Install Windows XP SP2
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/xpsp2/default.mspx

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.*com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Dean Fraiquin" wrote:

| Hi,
|
| After hours of sorting out Mother-in-Law's virused PC, finally got it all
| back to how it should. Managed to get the necessary security updates from
| Windows Update to block the trojan intrusion. However, next time I accessed
| the Windows Update site, SP2 was the only Update applicable. I duly
| downloaded this and tried to install - Came back with the error:
|
| Cannot validate this copy of XP (or something to that effect).
|
| So i checked the version using the "Is this copy of Windows legal" option.
|
| Again, came back with a similar error.
|
| The PC was bought second-hand with XP Pro already installed - I believe it
| was from a job lot of computers a university was selling.
|
| How can I get SP2 to install/validate the existing version of XP?
|
|
| Many thanks for anticipated assistance.
|
| Kind regards,
|
| Dean Fraiquin

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Dean;
See if this applies:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol
http://www.dts-l.org


"Dean Fraiquin" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> After hours of sorting out Mother-in-Law's virused PC, finally got it all
> back to how it should. Managed to get the necessary security updates from
> Windows Update to block the trojan intrusion. However, next time I
> accessed the Windows Update site, SP2 was the only Update applicable. I
> duly downloaded this and tried to install - Came back with the error:
>
> Cannot validate this copy of XP (or something to that effect).
>
> So i checked the version using the "Is this copy of Windows legal" option.
>
> Again, came back with a similar error.
>
> The PC was bought second-hand with XP Pro already installed - I believe it
> was from a job lot of computers a university was selling.
>
> How can I get SP2 to install/validate the existing version of XP?
>
>
> Many thanks for anticipated assistance.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Dean Fraiquin
>