Upgrading Desktop Computer

Thanks for the replies and guidance. Installed the registry key and the computer booted back up and is working so guess I am in the clear as far as needing the backup. As far as Windows updates, Saturday nite I installed Advanced System Care and the newer version undates XP and it installed 9 updates so guess I have double protection at this point.
Have a guy who has some DDR memory but just have to find time to go look, about an hour away. Alos got to get a hard drive so I will have some space on this computer.

 

I also just decided to go to the windows update page and it was checking for updates (so the registry entry worked) when got a message about the validation of the xp software. When I originally had this computer built, I had the guy put 98 on it because it was the best OS system going at the time. In 2005 or 6 a guy I was going to church with had my computer and without asking, he installed the xp pro on it. So now guess I have an issue with the validation of the program itself. When I got to the point on the Windows update site where it asked to try and validate, I stopped there as did not want to complicate the issue.

 

I didn't know the computer originally came with '98 and was "upgraded" to XP Pro. Did your church friend give you the installation CD AND the COA/Product Key (look to see if there's an XP sticker somewhere on your computer)[it would have been nice if he had asked permission]? Without one, you won't be able to activate/validate the XP install. Microsoft Security Essentials (if you're running it) checks the validity of the installed OS as well during initial installation. At any rate, if you can't validate the XP install, you may need to abandon XP or purchase an install CD WITH COA/Product Key. rolleyes

 

Thanks Mdonah
Other than that, I don't have to worry about saving the backup info now do I since the computer ran well after the registry entry?
As far as the XP validation entry, I'll just get windows 7 installed once I upgrade the memory and hard drive. Yes it would have been nice if he had asked, guess he thought he was doing me a favor. Too, at this point I'll let Advanced System Care keep windows upgraded until I get this accomplished.

 

With your current XP install being invalid and no way for you to make it "legit", it doesn't make sense to back it up. Make sure you get Win Vista or 7 WITH the Certificate of Authenticity which will have the Product Key on it. Best of luck.

 

Thanks mdonah. What I was actually getting at is, there is no need to save the backup I created because I want to remove it from my external drive since all seems to be working since I made that registry entry. Just did not know if I may have issue due to that down the road and need the backup. Will I if all seems fine now?
Thanks again!!

 

Backups need to be done on a regular basis and redundant backups are even better. You never know when a hard drive may fail and needs to be replaced. Having those backups saves a lot of time and headaches.

You know, I've got a spare XP CD with unused COA/Product Key and have no way to get it to you. I'm disabled.

 

Thanks mdonah, I tried to PM you about the XP CD but I don't have 50 posts so it would not let me. I don't mind putting an email address in here so we could communicate how to get it to me. Let me know. Or you could PM me with an email and I can contact you.

Thanks again for everything.

 

The problem for me is getting to the Post Office or UPS. I have to take a cab round trip. I'm wheelchair bound (for the most part — I can't walk more than about 30 feet). I'm also on limited fixed income and don't have a whole lot left after I pay my rent, utilities and grocery shop for the month.

I initially bought the XP Pro SP3 CD with COA because the last time I bought a computer, I made sure I got CDs for everything that was installed when I ordered the desktop. Well, over time, the OEM OS install CD developed a 3/4" crack near the spindle hole and the CD became unusable. I wanted to have a backup in case the same thing occurred this time. It hasn't but, I've also got Vista installed on my secondary drive and switch back and forth between XP and Vista (some posts here concern XP and others concern Vista/7 [many similarities between the two]).

But, back to the initial point. Check ebay for XP CDs with COA (it's where I got mine, I also got Vista Ultimate from there).

 

Thanks mdonah, it's the thought that counts.

The computer installed 8 updates upon shutdown yesterday at one point so maybe it is working properly.
Note, this morning when I started it, all the desktop icons would not become operable and it took restarting about 5 times before anything would work. (nothing to do with the windows updates because it started a few times after that) Did not know if that was anything to do with the registry entry which was why I was asking a couple of days ago if I should hold on to that backup for a few days that was on my external hard drive,... wanted to get it off there to free up the space. I did run a program to see if the disk had any problems and I think it found some but don't know if that is why it would not start properly this AM. It did restart after that with no problems but curious as to why it occurred to begin with. Hope you have a great Wednesday!!

 

With XP, sometimes it takes more than one restart for the updates to "settle in". You ran something like chkdsk and it found errors? Oh, oh. It's a good thing you have that backup. The drive may be starting to fail. You can restore to a new drive with that backup, re-install the registry key and go from there.

I'm curious about one thing though. You're getting updates even though you told me your church friend upgraded '98 to XP Pro without asking you first. Is it possible he installed XP legitimately using a valid product key? I don't think you would have gotten anything from Micro$oft beyond the 30-day trial period if he hadn't. Do you get nag screens about your OS?

 

It's possible that he did. I made sure it was updated before the April deadline and it updated then. And again yesterday it installed 8 updates. I do have one update that it always wants to install but it fails. I'll have to write it down and see what it is.

What are nag screens? (Forgot who you were talking/writing to huh? )
If it is the pop up about validation of XP, just started getting those within the last two months, never before. I googled and found how to stop them and it did stop popping up. I used the computer for awhile after he installed it and again, never got a popup about validation until the last couple of months.

 

That's exactly the type of thing I meant by "nag screen". another one that would have started showing up in March was the one about the end of XP support.

I think I've figured out a way I can get the XP Pro SP3 CD to you. I'm going to try to PM you with one of my email addresses so you can send me your pertinents. Even though you don't yet have 50 posts, you should still be able to receive PMs.

 

Thanks so much!!

The update that continues to NOT install is:

Windows XP Embedded - KB2686509

 

The reason for the update failure may be the fact that your '98 was updated to XP. See if following the manual instructions here correct the issue.

I replied to your email. Expect the CD in the next few days.