new XP question - help plz

A computer was built. It has a version of XP that cannot be registered with Microsoft, therefore, no updates can be obtained.

If I get a legit copy of XP and install it, will I lose any info, (because it is a unlegit copy) when I install the XP?

Thanks in advance from a n00b!

 

1. Even illegitimate versions of windows will still receive security updates via automatic updates. (isn't MS nice!) Its only when you have to pass the Genuine Advantage tests that there's a problem.

2. You will lose data if you perform a clean install. This is probably your best bet. You can save data by backing up to CD, etc. I would begin doing that unless someone can advise you better. But, from the sounds of it, you want to be free of a illegit OS, and so clean install is probably the way to go.

 

Check this Thread, same issue so you may not have to... http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=85445

However if you do end up reloading windows any data on the partition will be over written & lost as well as user accounts (biggie is you use EFS). If the data is on a seperate partition is usally pretty safe.