"24ggirl" wrote:
> Now just a few more questions I'm not quite clear on. When you say, "Probably
> the best thing to do now would be to purchase an external USB hard drive and
> copy all of your data (documents, pictures, music, email, etc.) to
> it." do you mean the stuff I have saved to the computer only? As I have done
> that already.
>
Yes. Any stuff you have saved to the computer (documents, pictures etc.) as
I said above. Note that this does not include programs that you have
installed like "Dragon" or drivers or print applications for your printer.
>
> When you say, "You will need the installation media of all your installed
> applications,
> hopefully you haven't lost those as well." Do you mean stuff like a printer
> that was installed on the computer or a program such as Dragon Naturally
> Speaking which is a word program that types as you talk for it so you don't
> have to type to save your hands and wrists from CTS and Tendinitis, or a
> webcam, etc.?
>
Yes. You will need to reinstall drivers for the printer, the webcam, and any
other devices that you use with your computer (Bluetooth devices, Ipod, etc.)
External hard drives and flash drives should work fine, as Windows XP has
drivers built in for those devices. Drivers for the printer, webcam and other
devices can be downloaded from the website of the manufacturer of those
devices.
As far as the applications like "Dragon", word processsing programs like
"Microsoft Office", and your printer's applications; you will need the
original install media (usually on a CD). If these softwares have been
pirated as well as the operating system was and you don't have the install
media for them; you will be out of luck.
> When you say, "Go to the Microsoft website and download the Service Pack 3
> iso image
> here:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...FamilyID=2fcde6ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e
> and burn the image to CD.
>
> Apply SP3 and turn on the Windows firewall
>
> Rather than spend $149.00 on a Genuine Advantage kit
>
> By saying all of this, are you telling me that basically the SP3 will cure
> the copy of Windows not being genuine for good even if I don't use the
> recovery discs?
>
No. SP3 will not make your pirated OS "genuine". Use of the proper recovery
disks for your model will install a genuine Windows XP operating system. This
is an older machine, and no doubt SP3 will not be included with the recovery
disks. I suggested that you download SP3 and burn it to CD so you will have a
copy of it to update the install from the recovery disks. SP3 (for me anyway)
installs more reliably from CD than it does from Windows Update.
> I know why you're telling me to do the iso image of the SP3 because it won't
> have the disk space issue that it squaks and bugs me about.
>
> But on the other hand, if I do use the recovery discs, being that it already
> has the partition on there from the pirated software, will it work from the
> recovery discs and create a whole new partition and not try to draw from the
> partition that's already on there from the pirated software?
>
The recovery disks will restore the computer to an "as shipped" condition.
This is a "destructive" reinstall that wipes out everything on the hard drive
including the pirated recovery partition. This is why you have to save your
data to external media, and have your application install media before you do
this. If you must keep your current installation because you don't have the
install media for your other pirated software, you will have to bite the
bullet and use the Genuine Advantage kit.
You still will have the problem of having too small of a hard drive. Again,
this is an older machine, and the hard drive is no doubt a PATA type drive
with the wide, flat ribbon cable. From what I understand, these drives are no
longer being made and are getting hard to get. You might still be able to
purchase a much larger PATA drive from Newegg or Tigerdirect. Use the cloning
software that comes with the new hard drive to clone your old drive to the
new one. This will solve your disk space problem so you can use the Genuine
Advantage kit.
This is a lot of trouble and cost in an attempt to save pirated software on
an obsolete computer. You will need to decide whether the cost and effort is
worth it.
> I really do appreciate all of the time and effort and help you guys have
> been helping and giving me more than you could ever ever know and for you
> patience as well. Thanks again!
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Mark Adams" wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > "24ggirl" wrote:
> >
> > > Well, that's just it, I don't have a friend or colleague that I know of that
> > > would have one of those discs that you tell me I should get and make a copy
> > > of. Chances of finding one are like winning or hitting the lottery. About 1
> > > in 10 million chances.
> > >
> > > Anyway, this is why I need them. I bought this computer from someone that
> > > sold him this and other computers as well and I bought this one from him and
> > > when I did the Windows Updates it told me that this copy of Windows did not
> > > pass genuine Windows validation and that I might be a victim of software
> > > counterfeiting.
> > >
> > > Well I turned off Windows Update (I know, not a smart thing to do---grill me
> > > if you must) because for one, the computer has only 16 GB of Hard Drive space
> > > as you can see and a forth of it is used up already from programs that are
> > > needed on there already, and I've been told that that's way too small of a
> > > space for updates to occur because you need more Hard Drive space for the
> > > latest ones that come out which would be way to big for the Hard Drive
> > > itself. They may have told me wrong. I don't know. I've deleted a bunch of
> > > useless programs on there to gain more space, but it still didn't seem to
> > > help much as far as trying to do Windows Updates.
> > >
> > > Heres the problem I encountered which is why I say I need to do my operating
> > > system with the recovery discs.
> > >
> > > When I tried to do the Window Updates this is what happened.
> > >
> > > I get a Window that says: Product Key update failure. The application has
> > > encountered a disk-write error while updating system components. The system
> > > may be low on disk space. Please check available disk space. [Error:
> > > 0x800402c9]
> > >
> > > And this error message as well: This copy of Windows did not pass genuine
> > > validation.
> > >
> > > The product key found on this computer is a Volume License Key (VLK) that
> > > has been blocked.
> > >
> > > Then it wanted me to buy this Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP
> > > Professional $149.00 from microsoft so it would make the copy of Windows
> > > legal. They told me I won't have enough disk space to do this. Obviously the
> > > one that had it before me pirated all of the software that's on this
> > > computer. That's what I'm trying to get fixed and because as a result of me
> > > trying to update the system with these Window Updates, my computer is running
> > > very very sluggish now, where as before it was running so very very smoothly
> > > and fast until I started updating it, and now it's too late to go back at
> > > this point, unless I can turn it back to day 1 with the recovery discs.
> > >
> > > Then I get this error message saying: Service Pack 3 Setup Window that says:
> > > (with an X inside a large red circle) An internal error occurred as it was
> > > trying to install the updates.
> > >
> > > Then I get this next error message saying: Service Pack 3 Setup Error Window
> > > that has a large X inside a large red circle that says: Service Pack 3
> > > installation did not complete.
> > >
> > > Then I get this Window Update window that says: Some updates were not
> > > installed. The following updates were not installed: Windows XP Service Pack
> > > 3 (KB936929)
> > >
> > > Had I known what I know now, I never ever would have ever run Windows
> > > Updates at all. I hope now I make more sense to you. It's not that I was
> > > afraid of getting caught with the goods so to speak, I just thought it would
> > > be an easy thing to do with no questions asked, but I'm glad you did anyway.
> > > Maybe now, hopefully I can get somewhere with it now.
> > >
> > > Even if I do get the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP
> > > Professional $149.00, and it makes the copy of Windows legal, would the
> > > recovery discs work if I used them? Please answer this one for me. Thanks.
> > >
> > > This is another reason I want these recovery discs to turn it back to day 1
> > > so hopefully it would make the copy of Windows legal and I would be good to
> > > go from there and that I wouldn't have to buy the Windows Genuine Advantage
> > > Kit for Windows XP Professional $149.00 . I've been told that yes, that's
> > > very true. What do you say?
> > >
> > > I guess now my big big question would be this, if I do get the recovery
> > > discs, being that the computer already has a partition on there and that's
> > > what it uses to draw from when you recover it with the recovery discs, would
> > > it be able to turn the computer back to day 1 and create a new partition with
> > > the recovery discs or is it going to use the partition already on there even
> > > though it doesn't have that partition on there already? I really need an
> > > answer on this one please as I'm still confused on what I should do at this
> > > point. Thanks.
> > >
> > > Any more advice I might try now?
> > >
> >
> >
> > Probably the best thing to do now would be to purchase an external USB hard
> > drive and copy all of your data (documents, pictures, music, email, etc.) to
> > it. Go to the Microsoft website and download the Service Pack 3 iso image
> > here:
> >
> > http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...FamilyID=2fcde6ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e
> >
> > and burn the image to CD.
> >
> > You will need the installation media of all your installed applications,
> > hopefully you haven't lost those as well.
> >
> > Use the recovery disks suggested by David Webb. They will restore your
> > computer to "as shipped" condition. This will wipe out everything on the hard
> > drive, so make sure that you have your data copied to the external drive and
> > your application media before doing this.
> >
> > Apply SP3 and turn on the Windows firewall; set Automatic Updates to "notify
> > me but do not download or install updates" before connecting to the internet.
> > When prompted of available updates by the yellow shield in the system tray,
> > select "Custom Install" and deselect any updates you don't want, install the
> > ones you do. You will be prompted if you want to be notified again of the
> > updates you deselected; check the "no" box and you won't be notified again.
> >
> > After your machine is updated, uninstall (from "Add/Remove Programs" in
> > "Control Panel") any preinstalled software that you don't want that came with
> > the recovery disk set. Reinstall your applications and copy your data back
> > from the external drive.
> >
> > Rather than spend $149.00 on a Genuine Advantage kit, spend $35.00 on the
> > recovery disks and about $60.00 on an external drive. You will now have a way
> > to back up your data.
> >
> >
> > >
> > > "Jose" wrote:
> > >
> > > > On Mar 15, 7:00 am, 24ggirl wrote:
> > > > > OK, I did like you asked me too. I hope this helps you out so you can help me
> > > > > out. See below. msinfo32
> > > > >
> > > > > OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
> > > > > Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
> > > > > OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
> > > > > System Name DELL-D163ABB8F2
> > > > > System Manufacturer Dell Computer Corporation
> > > > > System Model OptiPlex GX240
> > > > > System Type X86-based PC
> > > > > Processor x86 Family 15 Model 1 Stepping 2 GenuineIntel ~1694 Mhz
> > > > > BIOS Version/Date Dell Computer Corporation A03, 3/1/2002
> > > > > SMBIOS Version 2.3
> > > > > Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
> > > > > System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
> > > > > Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
> > > > > Locale United Kingdom
> > > > > Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5508 (xpsp.080320-1628)"
> > > > > User Name DELL-D163ABB8F2\dell
> > > > > Time Zone Central Daylight Time
> > > > > Total Physical Memory 640.00 MB
> > > > > Available Physical Memory 263.13 MB
> > > > > Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
> > > > > Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
> > > > > Page File Space 789.78 MB
> > > > > Page File C:\pagefile.sys
> > > > >
> > > > > I need them because I re-do my operating system to keep it refreshed and
> > > > > running like new about once a year to keep it fresh. I thought that it was
> > > > > recommended that a person do that to clean it up so it won't get bogged down
> > > > > all of the time with registry junk etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > When you say, "You would be well served to borrow a genuine bootable XP
> > > > > installation CD that matches your system (XP Home, XP Pro) and just make a
> > > > > copy of it, then you will have something useful for now and in the future..".
> > > > >
> > > > > Where would I get a genuine bootable XP installation CD that matches my
> > > > > system?
> > > > >
> > > > > Is it the same as a recovery CD itself?
> > > > >
> > > > > Please answer these questions and thank you for helping me out. I really
> > > > > really do appreciate it more than you could ever ever know.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "Jose" wrote:
> > > > > > On Mar 14, 7:02 am, 24ggirl wrote:
> > > > > > > Just one question. When you say, "> See the replies you received to the same question in the Win2000 newsgroup,
> > > > > > > > and in particular the hints to post full details about your machine.."
> > > > >
> > > > > > If you have XP, you need to stay here.
> > > > >
> > > > > > It might be good to have Recovery CDs, but they would be old and
> > > > > > unless you want to recover to some time in the past, use them for
> > > > > > coasters or make them into an attractive mobile.
> > > > >
> > > > > > What is your issue that makes you think you need them?
> > > > >
> > > > > > You would be well served to borrow a genuine bootable XP installation
> > > > > > CD that matches your system (XP Home, XP Pro) and just make a copy of
> > > > > > it, then you will have something useful for now and in the future.
> > > > >
> > > > > > Here is how you can post your system information:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Click Start, Run and in the box enter:
> > > > >
> > > > > > msinfo32
> > > > >
> > > > > > Click OK, and when the System Summary info appears, click Edit, Select
> > > > > > All, Copy and then paste the information back here.
> > > > >
> > > > > > There will be some personal information (like System Name and User
> > > > > > Name), and whatever appears to be private information to you, just
> > > > > > delete it from the pasted information.
> > > > >
> > > > > > This will minimize back and forth Q&A and eliminate guesswork.
> > > > > > .
> > > >
> > > > There is no need to redo your operating system to keep it fresh. My
> > > > XP installation is 5 years old and I have never done a repair, a
> > > > reinstall or used a Restore Point to solve any problem - ever. I
> > > > inflict my system all the time with malware, break things on purpose,
> > > > install/uninstall silly things all the time on purpose just for
> > > > practice.
> > > >
> > > > I believe that recommendation to periodically reinstall comes from
> > > > folks that don't know how to figure out and resolve problems and see a
> > > > reinstallation as the solution. Sure, things run swell again for a
> > > > while but you have not fixed anything - it just means you couldn't
> > > > figure it out and fix it. If your system gets bogged down, unbog it.
> > > >
> > > > Find a friend/colleague that has the same XP as you and make a copy of
> > > > their CD. Dell generally does not ship XP installation CDs (XP is
> > > > generally a single CD) - they ship system recovery type CDs which are
> > > > not the same and may not help you fix your system when it breaks. You
> > > > need something that will help you - not something that will maybe help
> > > > you. As soon as you apply updates to your system after you take
> > > > delivery, the recovery CDs are out of date. Coasters and mobiles....
> > > >
> > > > Yous system information looks very good.
> > > >
> > > > What is the issue that makes you think you need to reinstall?
> > > > .
> > > >