Windows XP and Service Pack 2
 

I was given a copy of Windows XP Professional on CD, which I installed onto
my computer.
I have got a copy of Service Pack 2 on CD, which came from Microsoft, but
when I tried to install it, it failed with a box that said that my product key is
incorrect.
How can I get round this, and install Service Pack 2 anyway?

[QUOTE=M0CZY]I was given a copy of Windows XP Professional on CD, which I installed onto
my computer.
I have got a copy of Service Pack 2 on CD, which came from Microsoft, but
when I tried to install it, it failed with a box that said that my product key is
incorrect.
How can I get round this, and install Service Pack 2 anyway?[/QUOTE]

First you make very certain that you have not mistyped your product key.

Then you complain to your supplier of XP Pro, with a Cc: to Microsoft, that the key sent to you was not a valid key. MSFT are quite keen to straighten out situations like this.


Paul

[QUOTE=M0CZY]I was given a copy of Windows XP Professional on CD, which I installed onto
my computer.
I have got a copy of Service Pack 2 on CD, which came from Microsoft, but
when I tried to install it, it failed with a box that said that my product key is
incorrect.
How can I get round this, and install Service Pack 2 anyway?[/QUOTE]

A copy? Are you implying that you are not using a licensed version of XP?

I must have typed the product key in correctly otherwise I wouldn't have
been able to install the Win XP in the first place.
I think that the SP2 software was telling me that my Win XP was a 'pirate'
version that my friend gave me.
I was hoping that someone on the forum would not mind this, and suggest a
simple way for me to install SP2 on it, even though my Windows does not
seem to be an official copy.

[QUOTE=M0CZY]I must have typed the product key in correctly otherwise I wouldn't have
been able to install the Win XP in the first place.
I think that the SP2 software was telling me that my Win XP was a 'pirate'
version that my friend gave me.
I was hoping that someone on the forum would not mind this, and suggest a
simple way for me to install SP2 on it, even though my Windows does not
seem to be an official copy.[/QUOTE]That's exactly what I gave you -- a simple and legal way of installing SP2 on your machine.


Paul

Negative comments are not very helpful to me.
My friend gave me the Win XP disk for free, so I can't really complain to him.
I don't think Microsoft will want to help me either!
I suppose I could just carry on using the Windows as it is, but it would have
nice to be able to install SP2 on it.
I am hardly likely to spend £189 on a genuine copy of Win XP, and install it
on my pile of junk that was rescued from a skip.
I just thought that someone would know how to install SP2 on my copy of
Win XP, despite the dubious origin of it.

Bearing in mind you're already breaking the law, why don't you mug a granny, or burgle a house, to get the £189 you need to buy a legitimate copy of Win XP.

[QUOTE=Greenbank]Bearing in mind you're already breaking the law, why don't you mug a granny, or burgle a house, to get the £189 you need to buy a legitimate copy of Win XP.[/QUOTE]That would work too, though I specifically advise AGAINST taking that course of action.


Paul

[QUOTE=M0CZY]Negative comments are not very helpful to me.
My friend gave me the Win XP disk for free, so I can't really complain to him.
I don't think Microsoft will want to help me either!
I suppose I could just carry on using the Windows as it is, but it would have
nice to be able to install SP2 on it.
I am hardly likely to spend £189 on a genuine copy of Win XP, and install it
on my pile of junk that was rescued from a skip.
I just thought that someone would know how to install SP2 on my copy of
Win XP, despite the dubious origin of it.[/QUOTE]If you're that much of a cheapskate, and a self-confessed lawbreaker to boot, why don't you just buy, beg, or borrow a Linux or BSD installation kit?

You can pick up your very own brand new copy of Linux or BSD for under £5 from a variety of commercial suppliers. Google will tell you where to find them. When purchasing Linux and BSD for Microsoft Research I used to do business with the Linux Emporium in, I think, Wallingford but there are many more.

If you really can't afford a fiver, send me your postal address and I'll put a copy of Linux I no longer require into a Jiffy bag and mail it to you.


Paul

£189? Is Win XP really that expensive?

[quote]why don't you mug a granny, or burgle a house[/quote]

What are your expectations on the date when robbing is indeed punished less than copyright infringement?
I already saw discussions on (hypothetical) scenarios after which it is "better" to rob a person who's coming out of a music store and steal his CD instead of illegally downloading it. :wink:

I believe you can legally download an evaluation copy of W2K3 that is good for 180 days.

[url]http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/trial/default.mspx[/url]