Help! Windows Xp Pro Activation issues!

I just built a computer with a friends of mine, and while i do pretty well on the hardware side, i am pretty clueless with the software side. I tried to log on to the machine yesterday and M$told me i needed to activate my copy of windows xp pro. Problem is, I am pretty sure its a bootleg, and i got no $$ to buy it from them. Is there a way around this, or am i doomed to spend the money? can i even do that?

thanks in advance for any response.

 

You're pretty sure it's bootleg? If it's a burned copy on a regular CD, then for sure it's a pirated copy. Your best bet would be to buy an OEM copy, cheapest option. Otherwise you can do Linux.

 

actually i am positive its bootleg. so where can i get oem? and how can i back anything up if i cant access windows? i'd like to do linux, but dont know enough about compatibility, or even how to use it really...