[RESOLVED] authenticate XP

[gollnick]

Help .. I had to update one of my laptops from Windows 2000 to XP pro over the weekend. I used my licensed, purchased, version of XP Pro (I am a Microsoft Partner) and entered the code and all that yadda yadda.
Installed ok. NOW when I go to run the update to load SP2, I get (after 20 minutes of it installing) that I do not have an authenticate copy of XP.. What gives?? How do I fix this?? It certainlly IS a legal copy. HELP

gollnick

[si_the_geek]

Thread moved from 'General Developer' forum to 'General PC' forum

[Jenner]

Call Microsoft's tech support. They may give you a new code or figure out what's wrong. Could be the code became blacklisted because pirates turned it up via a code generator.

[Lord Orwell]

i just had the exact same issue with my vista business install on my laptop. Authentic key on bottom but it wouldn't auto-register. I had to use the toll-free number. Then it activated fine.

i have also had numerous problems installing service packs on xp installs that don't have sp1 on them. Windows update will want you to jump right into installing the service pack, but install all the other patches first.

[JuggaloBrotha]

i have also had numerous problems installing service packs on xp installs that don't have sp1 on them. Windows update will want you to jump right into installing the service pack, but install all the other patches first.

I got tired of that a few years ago, I just install XP w/ SP3 these days

[Lord Orwell]

I got tired of that a few years ago, I just install XP w/ SP3 these days

ive been meaning to make a slipstreamed disc one of these days. i actually started to with nlite but it said i only needed sp3, but if i actually ran the install program it said you had to have sp1 or 2 installed first. so i havent actually messed with it since then.

[JuggaloBrotha]

You've got to slipstream it with sp1 then slipstream that with sp3, there's updated files in sp1 that aren't included in sp3 which is why the sp3 has a sp1 pre-req. Yes, it's very dumb.

[storm5510]

...Could be the code became blacklisted because pirates turned it up via a code generator.

I honestly don't see how Microsoft can keep up with all that. Their current license code system has been in use for 14 years. I think they need to devise a new system of longer keys with much more deep encryption algorithms. Sooner or later, there will be more black-listed keys than valid ones.

[JuggaloBrotha]

I honestly don't see how Microsoft can keep up with all that. Their current license code system has been in use for 14 years. I think they need to devise a new system of longer keys with much more deep encryption algorithms. Sooner or later, there will be more black-listed keys than valid ones.

At which point the OS wont be supported by MS anymore and it'll be out of copyright so therefor wont be MS's problem to deal with.

In reality, it's not an issue because the whole system only needs to work for x number of years (usually less than 10) at which point if it's a problem for someone (say 12 years after product release) then it's an unsolvable issue and will simply remain at that.