XP Pro pirated copy

Can someone help me? I have asked Microsoft this question before and they
will not answer me...I bought a used lap top from a family member and the
operating system (XP Pro) turns out to be pirated. My niece (the seller)
says oh well! So I bought XP Upgrade at a suggestion from a friend and it
will not load into the computer because it seems that I was told to buy the
wrong upgrade. It will only support Windows 98 or Millinium and the store
won't take it back because of copy write issues. So, have I just spent
$100.00 for nothing? Does anyone know what I can do?

"Allen" <Allen@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:272B9DB4-879D-49D4-8B8C-CA35EA60CB0B@microsoft.com...
> Can someone help me? I have asked Microsoft this question before and they
> will not answer me...I bought a used lap top from a family member and the
> operating system (XP Pro) turns out to be pirated. My niece (the seller)
> says oh well! So I bought XP Upgrade at a suggestion from a friend and
it
> will not load into the computer because it seems that I was told to buy
the
> wrong upgrade. It will only support Windows 98 or Millinium and the store
> won't take it back because of copy write issues. So, have I just spent
> $100.00 for nothing? Does anyone know what I can do?

You can still use that upgrade cd but you need to have a cd from some
previous version of windows

"philo" wrote:

>
> "Allen" <Allen@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:272B9DB4-879D-49D4-8B8C-CA35EA60CB0B@microsoft.com...
> > Can someone help me? I have asked Microsoft this question before and they
> > will not answer me...I bought a used lap top from a family member and the
> > operating system (XP Pro) turns out to be pirated. My niece (the seller)
> > says oh well! So I bought XP Upgrade at a suggestion from a friend and
> it
> > will not load into the computer because it seems that I was told to buy
> the
> > wrong upgrade. It will only support Windows 98 or Millinium and the store
> > won't take it back because of copy write issues. So, have I just spent
> > $100.00 for nothing? Does anyone know what I can do?
>
> You can still use that upgrade cd but you need to have a cd from some
> previous version of windows
>
> Philo,
Thank you, but what CD is it that I need now?
>

"Allen" <Allen@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:272B9DB4-879D-49D4-8B8C-CA35EA60CB0B@microsoft.com...
> Can someone help me? I have asked Microsoft this question before and they
> will not answer me...I bought a used lap top from a family member and the
> operating system (XP Pro) turns out to be pirated. My niece (the seller)
> says oh well! So I bought XP Upgrade at a suggestion from a friend and it
> will not load into the computer because it seems that I was told to buy the
> wrong upgrade. It will only support Windows 98 or Millinium and the store
> won't take it back because of copy write issues. So, have I just spent
> $100.00 for nothing? Does anyone know what I can do?


If you don't already have one, see if you can borrow a Windows 98 or Windows ME
installation CD. Early in the XP installation process, you'll be asked to
provide qualifying media. Take the XP CD out of your CD drive and put in the
Win98/ME CD to verify that you can use the upgrade CD. Put the XP CD back in and
complete the installation.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

"Allen" wrote in message
news:272B9DB4-879D-49D4-8B8C-CA35EA60CB0B@microsoft.com...
> Can someone help me? I have asked Microsoft this question before
> and they
> will not answer me...I bought a used lap top from a family member
> and the
> operating system (XP Pro) turns out to be pirated. My niece (the
> seller)
> says oh well! So I bought XP Upgrade at a suggestion from a friend
> and it
> will not load into the computer because it seems that I was told to
> buy the
> wrong upgrade. It will only support Windows 98 or Millinium and the
> store
> won't take it back because of copy write issues. So, have I just
> spent
> $100.00 for nothing? Does anyone know what I can do?

So how was it the "wrong upgrade"? Maybe what you got was an OEM
version which won't upgrade but instead does a fresh install of the OS
(i.e., it doesn't upgrade but does a full new install). Read
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/h...ng/matrix.mspx if you
really did get an "upgrade" version of Windows XP.

Even you know that "upgrade" means that you UPGRADE from some prior
version of the OS. So just what did you plan to UPGRADE from? So now
what you want help with is how to do some more pirating yourself to
use the upgrade version without ever buying a full version? Go buy a
full version of what Windows versions from which you are allowed to
upgrade using an UPGRADE version of Windows XP. eBay and Froogle list
Windows 98 or ME full retail version starting somewhere under $50.

Buy an OEM version from newegg.com (or pick your choice of a
retailer). You'll have to buy some hardware to get the OEM version
but it can be something cheap for under, say, $5. This will perform a
fresh install of the OS because it won't do an upgrade. When buying
used hardware, you should always expect to do a fresh install of the
OS.

Stop payment on the check. Or go to concilliation court to force your
niece to take back the computer since the sale was fraudulent (i.e.,
it did NOT include the OS that was promised). Since she decided to
"oh well" screw you, screw her back in court! That court can only
issue a judgement which won't force her to do anything but you can use
that judgement to place a lien on any property that she owns (car,
house, property, or anything else requiring a title transfer to
encumber that asset). You have never dealt with or had experience
with your niece to know if you could trust her or not? Has she
already been ostracized from the family yet you chose to trust her,
anyway?

You could go through the validation process which takes you to
Microsoft's piracy site where you can be forgiven by buying a legit
copy but its price is about $10 more than getting an OEM version at
newegg.com and there will probably be a longer delay before you get
it.

Allen wrote:
> Can someone help me? I have asked Microsoft this question before
> and they will not answer me...I bought a used lap top from a family
> member and the operating system (XP Pro) turns out to be pirated.
> My niece (the seller) says oh well! So I bought XP Upgrade at a
> suggestion from a friend and it will not load into the computer
> because it seems that I was told to buy the wrong upgrade. It will
> only support Windows 98 or Millinium and the store won't take it
> back because of copy write issues. So, have I just spent $100.00
> for nothing? Does anyone know what I can do?

Why did you buy an Upgrade CD?
What qualifying previous OS do you have a free copy of (non-OEM)?

What I am saying is that your friend steered you wrong. The illegal copy of
Windows XP Professional you have does not *qualify you* (magically I
suppose) for an upgrade version of the OS. It's like stealing a car and
trying to trade it in to a legitimate dealership for the down-payment on
another car...

Was 'the friend' your niece by any chance? (Fool me once, shame on you, fool
me twice - well, you know the rest. heh) J/K... ;-)

So yes - unless you have an unused copy of Windows 95, 98, 98SE, ME or 2000
Professional lying around - you did just spend $100 for nothing; or at the
very least you will need to find/buy one of the other OSes I just listed in
order to make that license you have (Windows XP (Home/Professional) Upgrade
Edition) valid.

From a 100% technical (could you make it work or not) standpoint, you could
probably make it work with any copy of a prior OS (that I listed.)
However - if you are trying to get out of this with integrity completely
and unquestionably intact - you either buy an unused version of the OSes I
listed or you get a retail full or OEM version of Windows XP (I recommend
Retail, otherwise you cannot transfer the license according to the agreement
if you get rid of the laptop... In short - the OEM copy is "tied" to the
first machine it is installed upon.)

P.S. - there is no other "upgrade versions". There's "Windows XP Home
Upgrade" or "Windows XP Professional Upgrade" and the ONLY difference
between the two in what they will upgrade is that 'Professional' can also be
used to upgrade 'Home'. ;-)

I am semi-shocked the store will not take it back. Has it been over 30
days? Or do they have a strict policy about open software (I cannot buy
that it actually has to do with copyright issues - I think it is more like
"CYA issues.")

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Shenan,
I bought the upgrade at Walmart. It is Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade with
Service Pack 2. Walmart said that Microsoft will not let them take it back
because it was opened and that violates the copyright laws because they don't
know if you copied the disc or not. No, the friend who suggested that I buy
this upgrade was not my niece.

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> Allen wrote:
> > Can someone help me? I have asked Microsoft this question before
> > and they will not answer me...I bought a used lap top from a family
> > member and the operating system (XP Pro) turns out to be pirated.
> > My niece (the seller) says oh well! So I bought XP Upgrade at a
> > suggestion from a friend and it will not load into the computer
> > because it seems that I was told to buy the wrong upgrade. It will
> > only support Windows 98 or Millinium and the store won't take it
> > back because of copy write issues. So, have I just spent $100.00
> > for nothing? Does anyone know what I can do?
>
> Why did you buy an Upgrade CD?
> What qualifying previous OS do you have a free copy of (non-OEM)?
>
> What I am saying is that your friend steered you wrong. The illegal copy of
> Windows XP Professional you have does not *qualify you* (magically I
> suppose) for an upgrade version of the OS. It's like stealing a car and
> trying to trade it in to a legitimate dealership for the down-payment on
> another car...
>
> Was 'the friend' your niece by any chance? (Fool me once, shame on you, fool
> me twice - well, you know the rest. heh) J/K... ;-)
>
> So yes - unless you have an unused copy of Windows 95, 98, 98SE, ME or 2000
> Professional lying around - you did just spend $100 for nothing; or at the
> very least you will need to find/buy one of the other OSes I just listed in
> order to make that license you have (Windows XP (Home/Professional) Upgrade
> Edition) valid.
>
> From a 100% technical (could you make it work or not) standpoint, you could
> probably make it work with any copy of a prior OS (that I listed.)
> However - if you are trying to get out of this with integrity completely
> and unquestionably intact - you either buy an unused version of the OSes I
> listed or you get a retail full or OEM version of Windows XP (I recommend
> Retail, otherwise you cannot transfer the license according to the agreement
> if you get rid of the laptop... In short - the OEM copy is "tied" to the
> first machine it is installed upon.)
>
> P.S. - there is no other "upgrade versions". There's "Windows XP Home
> Upgrade" or "Windows XP Professional Upgrade" and the ONLY difference
> between the two in what they will upgrade is that 'Professional' can also be
> used to upgrade 'Home'. ;-)
>
> I am semi-shocked the store will not take it back. Has it been over 30
> days? Or do they have a strict policy about open software (I cannot buy
> that it actually has to do with copyright issues - I think it is more like
> "CYA issues.")
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

I am not asking how to pirate more. I am asking what I need to do to make it
right. The only operating systems that I have are Windows 2000 and Windows
95 and I am told that this upgrade (not an oem) will still not work.

"VanguardLH" wrote:

> "Allen" wrote in message
> news:272B9DB4-879D-49D4-8B8C-CA35EA60CB0B@microsoft.com...
> > Can someone help me? I have asked Microsoft this question before
> > and they
> > will not answer me...I bought a used lap top from a family member
> > and the
> > operating system (XP Pro) turns out to be pirated. My niece (the
> > seller)
> > says oh well! So I bought XP Upgrade at a suggestion from a friend
> > and it
> > will not load into the computer because it seems that I was told to
> > buy the
> > wrong upgrade. It will only support Windows 98 or Millinium and the
> > store
> > won't take it back because of copy write issues. So, have I just
> > spent
> > $100.00 for nothing? Does anyone know what I can do?
>
> So how was it the "wrong upgrade"? Maybe what you got was an OEM
> version which won't upgrade but instead does a fresh install of the OS
> (i.e., it doesn't upgrade but does a full new install). Read
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/h...ng/matrix.mspx if you
> really did get an "upgrade" version of Windows XP.
>
> Even you know that "upgrade" means that you UPGRADE from some prior
> version of the OS. So just what did you plan to UPGRADE from? So now
> what you want help with is how to do some more pirating yourself to
> use the upgrade version without ever buying a full version? Go buy a
> full version of what Windows versions from which you are allowed to
> upgrade using an UPGRADE version of Windows XP. eBay and Froogle list
> Windows 98 or ME full retail version starting somewhere under $50.
>
> Buy an OEM version from newegg.com (or pick your choice of a
> retailer). You'll have to buy some hardware to get the OEM version
> but it can be something cheap for under, say, $5. This will perform a
> fresh install of the OS because it won't do an upgrade. When buying
> used hardware, you should always expect to do a fresh install of the
> OS.
>
> Stop payment on the check. Or go to concilliation court to force your
> niece to take back the computer since the sale was fraudulent (i.e.,
> it did NOT include the OS that was promised). Since she decided to
> "oh well" screw you, screw her back in court! That court can only
> issue a judgement which won't force her to do anything but you can use
> that judgement to place a lien on any property that she owns (car,
> house, property, or anything else requiring a title transfer to
> encumber that asset). You have never dealt with or had experience
> with your niece to know if you could trust her or not? Has she
> already been ostracized from the family yet you chose to trust her,
> anyway?
>
> You could go through the validation process which takes you to
> Microsoft's piracy site where you can be forgiven by buying a legit
> copy but its price is about $10 more than getting an OEM version at
> newegg.com and there will probably be a longer delay before you get
> it.
>
>

<snipped>

Allen wrote:
> I am not asking how to pirate more. I am asking what I need to do
> to make it right. The only operating systems that I have are
> Windows 2000 and Windows 95 and I am told that this upgrade (not an
> oem) will still not work.

If you have an unused copy of Windows 95 - I believe you can use that as
qualifying software for Windows XP Home.

You will boot from the Windows XP Home CD. You will wipe everything off the
computer and install normally. When it asks for qualifying media - insert
your Windows 95 CD.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Shenan,

When I insert the XP Home CD, it never gets to the point of asking for
qualifying media. It practically says right off the bat that it cannot be
installed period because it cannot find any qualifying operating system to
begin with. Now are you saying to load Windows 95, remove disc then install
the upgrade at which time it will ask for qualifying media which then would
be the windows 95 disc?

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> <snipped>
>
> Allen wrote:
> > I am not asking how to pirate more. I am asking what I need to do
> > to make it right. The only operating systems that I have are
> > Windows 2000 and Windows 95 and I am told that this upgrade (not an
> > oem) will still not work.
>
> If you have an unused copy of Windows 95 - I believe you can use that as
> qualifying software for Windows XP Home.
>
> You will boot from the Windows XP Home CD. You will wipe everything off the
> computer and install normally. When it asks for qualifying media - insert
> your Windows 95 CD.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>