invalid windows xp operating system product key

[zingo1327]

My computer had a virus attack and the hard drive had to be formatted which deleted my pre installed version of windows XP.
Wrongly I know... I let a friend load a pirate version of XP so I could get up and running again. This works fine and has been accepted by microsoft but when I try to download anything from Microsoft I fail the validation process. My question is this...Is it possible to load up my genuine product key in place of the pirate one?

[vehelpfulguy]

It depends which version of XP it is.

There is of course Home and Professional versions of XP.

But there are also OEM versions, retail versions, exterprise versions, developer versions and so on.

So YOUR key is for the version of XP you had on your computer, if your friends versions is a different version YOUR key wont work with it.

Assuming you bought this PC from a legitimate company with XP pre-installed then the company should be able to supply you with a XP restore disk that will re-install using your valid key.

Contact them and ask.

(Have you checked the software that came with the PC that a XP restore CD is not inlcuded?)

[zingo1327]

Thank you for the input VHG.
All I got was windows XP home edition preinstalled and a drivers back up disc from Time computers who went out the game

[ACtheTROLL]

so what you are actually saying is it hasn't been accepted by microsoft - because they are refusing you updates.

VHG has the nail on the head - your pre-installed version is the one to find

[zingo1327]

hi ac the troll.
No i'm getting updates, sp1 and sp2 for example but when I try to download updates for media player for example it takes me to a validation page and tells me I can't download because I am using an unauthorised version of windows XP.
As I say, I have the product key and ID on my desktop computer but can't figure out how to disable or delete the rogue key with my genuine one. It's quite expensive to buy another key from Microsoft �95 when I already have one.

[wildwood]

There should be a Microsoft phone number in your area in the phone book. What you want is a CD with the version to match the key. There will be a charge but nowhere near 95 quid!

When you get up and running properly READ the intro of installation. My (and I presume all) XP came with the option to save the version to CDs (5cds) once.
I am also surprised that as it came pre-installed your computer did not have another drive (partition) with a backup XP on it.

[zingo1327]

hi wildwood,
I'll have a look in the phone book. The �95 was quoted in the validation on-line page.
You may have uncovered something though. I noticed when I was uploading the version using the pirate key, it asked where to install it. There was one partition with 100 or so giga things and one with 7 .
Do you think that the partition with 7 may be what I need and if so what should be my plan of action?? idiots guide please.
thank you

[ACtheTROLL]

if you have the serial - download http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

it should let you swap serials