Ok, how do I fix this? [Archive]

View Full Version : Ok, how do I fix this?

MMike

02-07-2007, 04:50 AM

My computer is one that I was given at my last job (I was part owner etc...you know the story). The other guy will NEVER do anything above board. So he ordered three computers from "a guy he knew". Got the machines pre-loaded with different software including XP. So then 6-8 months ago, Windows imposed their license validation thing and lo and behold it turns out that I don't have a legit copy of XP.

Sooooo....I've been ignoring it. But last night, like a moron, I shot myself in the foot. I somehat accidentally upgraded WMP from ver 10 to ver 11....now my media player doesn't work becaue it requires validation.

Now the other thing is that I do in fact own legit CD's for XP...they predate the service pack 2 upgrade of long ago. But they are genuine. Is there a way to reload XP with my own license (and then go through the upgrades from the Microsoft website) ?

binary visions

02-07-2007, 05:23 AM

You can call Microsoft and they'll usually give you a new license.

They will hound you for the name of the guy who sold you the pirated versions, though. If you don't know the guy, though, they may just give you the new license and forget about it.

You can just re-install XP from your legit CD though, and that will work fine. All of your updates (service pack 2 etc.) will be available through Windows Update.

MMike

02-07-2007, 06:23 AM

binary visions

02-07-2007, 07:44 AM

You may want to back up your favorites, anything on your Desktop, My Documents and take note of special settings you might have in Windows, because I can't remember what it does to your Windows installation (that is, it will probably overwrite a few things). Those three particular items are associated with your username (they aren't just randomly loose on your drive), which is why you should back them up.

It won't destroy any of your data, though, and should keep your registry mostly intact. It's very likely that you'll lose a couple of your drivers in the process, so you may boot up again with a low resolution or a piece of hardware not working right. Try to dig up any drivers CDs you have or just download drivers from the manufacturer's website.

When you install, you're going to choose "Leave Current File System Intact" and I think it prompts you to delete the current C:\WINDOWS directory - that's okay to do, just don't select any of the formatting options :p

I'd probably call Microsoft first, to be honest. You paid for a license, may as well have it. I think you get 3 activations before you need to call them anyway.

MMike

02-07-2007, 10:49 AM

Thanks man.....you're the best!

MMike

02-07-2007, 07:12 PM

when it says it won't recover my files, does that mean it will wipe out EVERYTHING??

http://www.fotothing.com/photos/6c5/6c5cde69c8d6e1700860b3831bbd88e2.jpg

Transcend

02-07-2007, 07:31 PM

You can just use a utility to change the key to a valid one.

MMike

02-07-2007, 07:34 PM

You can just use a utility to change the key to a valid one.

care to elaborate?

Transcend

02-07-2007, 07:39 PM

http://www.petri.co.il/change_the_serial_in_windows_xp.htm

Method #1

i just googled, but there is quite a few of these out there. You dont need the keygen, as that'd be illegal, but you have every right to use an application to change to a valid key.

MMike

02-07-2007, 07:53 PM

But I have SP2 installed.... That firt link you posted didn't do squat. I gave me a key and everything ,butit didn't change anything

Transcend

02-07-2007, 07:58 PM

Use the link up now, the first one was the wrong one.

MMike

02-07-2007, 08:01 PM

Even though it says "How can I change the volume licensing product key on a Windows XP SP1-Based Computer?"

SP1?

binary visions

02-07-2007, 09:04 PM

when it says it won't recover my files, does that mean it will wipe out EVERYTHING??

You need to boot that installer CD, not try to install from Windows.

By "won't recover your files" it means your Windows directory is going to be zapped, maybe your user directories too (hence my suggestion to back up My Docs etc.)

Transcend has a good suggestion, though, but it will only work if the version of Windows you have a legit key to is exactly the same as the version on your business computer. You could still call Microsoft ;)

DRB

02-08-2007, 07:37 AM

Who sees this ending happily for MMike?

I sure hope it ends with his computer in flames.

binary visions

02-08-2007, 08:51 AM

I sure hope it ends with his computer in flames.

I was hoping it would end with him being attacked by angry badgers.

Ciaran

02-10-2007, 11:12 AM

i just googled, but there is quite a few of these out there. You dont need the keygen, as that'd be illegal, but you have every right to use an application to change to a valid key.

Not if his original copy of Windows is a pirated copy.

Transcend

02-10-2007, 11:14 AM

Not if his original copy of Windows is a pirated copy.

Um, yes, he does. If he owns a legitimate key he can do whatever he wants with it. Whether the program was installed off of a burned copy or not, you own the KEY not the software. Hell, technically you lease the key. Read your EULA before you post nonsense.

MMike

02-12-2007, 06:49 AM

Well....DRB was right.

On the bright side, I made it my wife's problem.....but after dinking with trying to get a new key and all of that, and figuring I didn't want to spend hours on the phone with microsoft, we decided to roll the dice and install my own copy (older) copy of XP. Well...long story short, my wife ended up spending all day on the phone with microsoft yesterday...while I went toboganning with Emily.... It did eventually get sorted out and it is now installed. HOWEVER, it seems to have lost the driver for my network card. Which woud not be a big deal if I could FIND the CD with the ddriver on it. I KNOW I have it. but I've not seen it since we moved into the house. I remember packing that stuff. (I had all the boxes for my graphics card, network card, motherboard etc.... But where the hell they are now.....who knows?

I can now either buy a new network card, or call my old boss and ask him if I can borrow his CD's.... but until then, I can't activate windows, because I can't get on-line!

Go ahead....laugh.

(I also got rear-ended in traffic this morning too. No damage. )

Quo Fan

02-12-2007, 07:01 AM

Before I do anything to my computer that could effect any of my drivers, I always make sure I have them on hand before I start. That way, if anything goes wrong, and usually it does, I can reload the drivers and get working again.

DRB

02-12-2007, 07:02 AM

Sometimes Monday can be a good day.

MMike

02-12-2007, 07:23 AM

glad I could help

binary visions

02-12-2007, 07:29 AM

I can now either buy a new network card, or call my old boss and ask him if I can borrow his CD's.... but until then, I can't activate windows, because I can't get on-line!

Go ahead....laugh.

Or you could, you know, download it now that you have internet access and bring it home on a USB drive, CD, DVD, whatever... :clapping:

I did tell you that you should download drivers before reinstalling. :disgust1: Woe to those who discard technical advice from the Voice of Reason.

Glad you're at least most of the way there!

MMike

02-12-2007, 08:12 AM

Or you could, you know, download it now that you have internet access and bring it home on a USB drive, CD, DVD, whatever... :clapping:

I did tell you that you should download drivers before reinstalling. :disgust1: Woe to those who discard technical advice from the Voice of Reason.

Glad you're at least most of the way there!

I'm on a unix wrokstation here, and unable to do it from work.

NOt to mention I don't even know what brand the damend thing is. It's all integrated into the motherboard.

I guess I could do more research and down load it from my parents place or something.

and I told my wife to back things up. But she only did our documetns and settings. And I wasn't worried because I still have the CDs....I just don't know where they are.

binary visions

02-12-2007, 09:22 AM

NOt to mention I don't even know what brand the damend thing is. It's all integrated into the motherboard.

Post up the make and model of your computer and we'll getcha hooked up.

MMike

02-12-2007, 09:33 AM

Post up the make and model of your computer and we'll getcha hooked up.

No clue. It was a "custom build"....by my old boss's "computer guy". No identifying marks on it at all. All's I know is that it has an ASUS/Athlon motherboard/processor, and a Radeon 9500 graphics card...and it was built in 2004

DRB

02-12-2007, 09:34 AM

Post up the make and model of your computer and we'll getcha hooked up.

hooked up = screwed for life

binary visions

02-12-2007, 09:47 AM

No clue. It was a "custom build"....by my old boss's "computer guy". No identifying marks on it at all. All's I know is that it has an ASUS/Athlon motherboard/processor, and a Radeon 9500 graphics card...and it was built in 2004

Try this: http://halfdone.com/ukd/
(download this file if it doesn't find your NIC the first time around: http://members.datafast.net.au/dft0802/downloads/pcidevs.txt
...and drop it in the install directory, it'll provide all the latest hardware identifiers)

or one of these if that doesn't work:
http://majorgeeks.com/EVEREST_Free_Edition_d4181.html
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

...one of those should be able to identify your NIC. The first one is compact and should be sufficient.

binary visions

02-12-2007, 09:49 AM

By the way, the bill for my services will be arriving in a few days ;)

MMike

02-12-2007, 10:34 AM

My wife seems to think it's an american magatrend.....(FWIW).

And as a token of appreciation, your shiny new donkey should be arriving any day now.

binary visions

02-12-2007, 10:42 AM

American Megatrends is the company that wrote your BIOS, they didn't manufacture anything in your computer. They actually do make a little hardware, but very little, and none of it for AMD.

AMI writes the BIOS for a huge chunk of the motherboard market.

MMike

02-12-2007, 10:45 AM

Yeah I was just looking at the AMI site and it didn't look right. I'm pretty sure I have an ASUS motherboard.....would it be their network adapter then?

binary visions

02-12-2007, 10:52 AM

Nah, it's probably either 3Com, Broadcom, Realtek or Intel... They're the widest spread chipset manufactuers for consumer network cards.

MMike

02-12-2007, 12:28 PM

Secret Squirrel

02-12-2007, 03:52 PM

P35-153-11Z9.....does this mean anything to anyone?

My wife is looking at it now. The logo is circular, and the says "tech" after the logo. Apart from that she can't make out any other markings....of course she's half blind....

Say that number 5 times then your name backwards 4 times. That should get the card working.

Da Peach

02-12-2007, 05:36 PM

P35-153-11Z9.....does this mean anything to anyone?

My wife is looking at it now. The logo is circular, and the says "tech" after the logo. Apart from that she can't make out any other markings....of course she's half blind....

On behalf of MMike and his debilitated computer....:

Motherboard is an ASUS
Network adapter is an S-Tech.

Put that in your pipe.

PS: Barbados was awesome.

Secret Squirrel

02-12-2007, 06:03 PM

On behalf of MMike and his debilitated computer....:

Motherboard is an ASUS
Network adapter is an S-Tech.

Put that in your pipe.

PS: Barbados was awesome.

You're being much to nice to be MMike's brother....I'd say you're a stalker with better eyesight than his wife....

:twitch: :D

binary visions

02-12-2007, 06:12 PM

I have no idea what an S-Tech network adapter is, and can't find any information about one. I call B.S. :D

MMike

02-13-2007, 11:19 AM

Awright.....well after work I'm stopping at Best Buy and getting a new network adapter.

Any recommendations? D-Link?

Is think good enough?http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10066781&catid=21101

The most expensive one is $30 but it says it's for workstations. Is that ok? It's still a PCI interface.

But the choices are:

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/subclass.asp?catid=21101&logon=&langid=EN

or

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/subclass.asp?logon=&langid=EN&catid=10493

Both stores are on my way home. what should I get?

binary visions

02-13-2007, 11:27 AM

Get this one:

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS93888163&catid=21101

Only because I know the chipsets that D-link uses are decent and widely supported. No reason to spend a ton on a NIC, the $30 isn't going to perform that much better.

MMike

02-13-2007, 11:42 AM

SOunds good to me.

As a token of my gratitude, you can have my younger brother.

binary visions

02-13-2007, 12:00 PM

As a token of my gratitude, you can have my younger brother.

Hey now! What did I ever do to you?!

MMike

02-13-2007, 01:27 PM

He has a strong back and is quite literate.

Da Peach

02-13-2007, 01:39 PM

Fire Bad!!!!

DRB

02-13-2007, 02:01 PM

He has a strong back and is quite literate.

But he stinks of fish.

Secret Squirrel

02-13-2007, 02:11 PM

But he stinks of fish.

And, for some strange reason, fava beans....

MMike

02-13-2007, 07:52 PM

And we're MOSTLY back in business.

Thanks man......

binary visions

02-13-2007, 08:40 PM

Just keep your brother away from me.

Last time, he tried to hump my leg.

MMike

02-13-2007, 09:18 PM

Hmmm....I seem to be missing my sound now. The volume icon is gone and it says I have no devices...another driver issue I suspect

MMike

02-13-2007, 09:27 PM

BTW, this is where I stand now...

http://www.fotothing.com/photos/639/63969f6e05935eb8ad10675ff62c52d1.jpg

MMike

02-13-2007, 09:53 PM

Balls! I can't find a driver for my audio device. Any ideas?

goodboyb

02-13-2007, 09:56 PM

oh gees...... it's too late for me to reply. you have reinstalled your OS. there's supposed to be a work around that you can try regarding the "not genuine MS Windows XP" message.
anyway for other people's sake:

The Windows Genuine Advantage tool runs from Windows Update automatically, & has been know to generate a "This copy of Windows is not genuine" error on legitimate Windows XP installations. On systems that are getting this message, have them navigate to the weblink below, & run the manual WGA validation to resolve the issue.

http://tinyurl.com/o2ttp

or

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/RunHTA.aspx?displaylang=en&sGuid=725c996c-9dab-45a4-abc8-1f255ee87724&page=validate

ANOTHER FIX:

This is a problem that we have found and are working on the fix. The KB article (905474) is the solution at this time. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474/en-us

Here is other workaround for this issue:

To correct a hung installation:

Run task manager and end the wgatray.exe process.
Open a command window and run Wgatray.exe /b
Log off and then log back in -- or just reboot
To resolve issue of Notifier being left in an inconsistent state (Non-Genuine Display but Validation Works):

Option 1:

Open a command window and run Wgatray.exe /b
Log off and then log back in -- or just reboot
Option 2:

Navigate to http://www.microsoft.com/genuine and click on “Validate Windows”
Reboot the computer, and the notification update should correct itself
If two reboots are required, the user will likely need to visit the Windows Update Website (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/) and the WGA Notification Tool KB905474 will be re-offered. Reinstall the update.

Note: rebooting alone may solve this problem – though two reboots may be necessary for either option.

and for your current problem about the BANGS inside your device manager. it looks like you need to download drivers for your motherboard's chipset and soundcard if that's integrated.

goodboyb

02-13-2007, 10:18 PM

how to find your mobo driver & soundcard.

look inside your computer (mobo) and look for the model number and go to the manufacturer's website. you can download it there. or use google.com. the same goes for your soundcard. HTH

but im pretty sure that your soundcard is integrated. just look for it at the manufacturer's site.

binary visions

02-14-2007, 05:24 AM

I'm seeing from your Unknown Device screenshot that you've got an ASUS board with an NVIDIA chipset. NVIDIA happens to have a very good unified driver set that should clear everything up - see if, under the full details somewhere, you can find the word "nForce#" where # is a single digit number. If you can find that, go to NVIDIA's website and download the appropriate nForce driver.

If you can't, you need to do what was just stated (and we had you trying to do earlier), identify the motherboard's model number.

MMike

02-14-2007, 07:01 AM

Late last night I did manage to get my sound working.

The motherboard is a....K8N...is I recall correctly....I found that out thanks to one of the link you posted the other day. I downloaded an audio driver from the ASUS site that is supposed to be for my motherboard....it says it's for Realtek, but it seems to work.

When I get home I'll look into the NVIDIA drivers...

My sound adapter says "foxconn" on it.

DRB

02-14-2007, 07:25 AM

and you design helicopters for a living?

Awesome.

MMike

02-14-2007, 07:31 AM

and you design helicopters for a living?

Awesome.

They do seem to crash a lot....hmmmmm....

And to be fair, I don't design anything anymore. I make schedules and hound people to release drawings.....and get yelled at a lot...I believe the term is "lead".....sigh

Quo Fan

02-14-2007, 07:37 AM

Go to the Asus site and get the INF update file. It should clear up many of those "unknown devices"

DRB

02-14-2007, 08:20 AM

They do seem to crash a lot....hmmmmm....

And to be fair, I don't design anything anymore. I make schedules and hound people to release drawings.....and get yelled at a lot...I believe the term is "lead".....sigh

Oh so you're involved in the construction of helicopters... that's even better or worse depending on how much you fly in helicopters.