Re: Windows update causes pc to restart

"peter" wrote
"Rock" wrote:
"peter" wrote

> Update on a previous post:

> I was given a pc by a friend who emigrates to the States. He hadn't
> used windows updates, or a firewall, or sp1 or sp2 or even a virus
> checker!! I cleared the pc of viruses and spyware. I installed sp1
> and
> sp2 (i'm running xp) and used the firewall. the trouble is that when
> I
> use windows updates the pc restarts or crashes and goes to the "blue
> screen" with various error messages. I'm running two virus checkers
> still and both turn up nothing. the two spyware programs turn up
> nothing nasty, so why do i get the problem?

> The reason i mentioned how i got the pc is because it's a legit copy
> of xp, but i've no way of formatting the pc and reinstalling xp as i
> don't have the xp disks.

> the pc works just fine without the updates, but i'd prefer to have
> them on.

> does anybody have any ideas short of wiping the pc and starting
> again?

A PC that was not protected? There's no way you can be sure the system is
clean, and even if it is clean, the damage has been done. It's a loosing
proposition. Bite the bullet and reinstall clean.

But as I said, I'm in London, my friend has just been posted to
Washington DC. I'm not going to get the original disks in a hurry. The
version of XP is legit. I know that XP online registration means that
the same version cannot be registered twice,

There is registration and there is activation. Registration is voluntary and of no benefit to the user. Activation is what you are talking about, and that is mandatory. What activation does is attempt to enforce the license agreement that the OS can only be installed on one system at a time (and for OEM versions cannot be transferred to a different computer).

but if I go in control
panel and then system it gives me the registration code.

That gives the PID that is used for tech support. It's not the product key which is needed for an installation. To find what that is, if the installation is bootable, run one of these utililties.

ViewXP http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/ViewKeyXP.exe

AIDA32 http://www.aumha.org/freeware.htm

Belarc Advisor http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Magical Jellybean http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

You haven't said whether this XP installation is retail, generic OEM or branded OEM, installed by the PC manufacturer such as Dell or HP. If the latter and if the OS is as it was installed originally or reinstalled by use of the OEM provided CD, the key that will be returned by these products is the key used by the manufacturer when the image was laid down. They use one key for all their similar installations. It's not what one uses to reinstall the OS. For branded OEM versions they are often BIOS locked to the motherboard/BIOS so the user does not have to provide a key during reinstallation provided the CD that came with the system was used.

To reinstall the OS without that provided CD, you could try a generic OEM XP installation CD that is the same type, that is Home or Pro and the same language version, as the product key that is on the sticker attached to the computer case. Often times that will work, but not always. Sometimes that key will only work with the manufacturer's supplied recovery CD.

Can I then borrow some xp disks from somebody, but then when the time comes enter
the registration number from my pc? Surely the important thing is the
licence, not the disks.

Correct, the product key is the critical part. Yes you can copy someone else's CD as long as it matches the product key you have. It has to match as to:

Home vs. Pro
Full retail vs. Upgrade vs. Volume License vs. generic OEM vs branded OEM
Language version

If the product key on the sticker only works with the OEM provided recovery CD, then you'll have to wait to get the CD that came with the system from your friend or contact the computer OEM to get a replacement CD, or buy a copy of XP.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

.

Relevant Pages

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