Windows repair

[chrisrob]

Having battled for a while with my PC, replacing motherboard, PSU, graphics card ... I'v eventually discovered the problems - like making USB ports inoperative, not recognising PCI cards (like graphics card etc.) ... were actually due to the operating system!

Having installed a second version of the Windows XP, all the problems are solved. [I] Except [/I] that copy is already registered on a different machine and in 28 days will be useless.

I've tried to find the original OS disc for this machine. I have 5 such discs here; at the time I got this machine, I set up an internet café for disabled and managed those 6 machines, too. However, every time I try any of those discs, I get the message that the installed OS is newer than that on the disc.

Is there a simple way I can get my legitimate Windows repaired?

[AlBags]

Are you positive?
It's the Mobo drivers and XP SP2 that have drivers for hardware and USB/2 support.
There is no simple way .. there is a hard way I know of.
Shame you didn't extract your old Windows key from registry before reloading. That's easy to do.
You do really need a key applicable to the Windows version.

[ChuckFickens]

really?

You replaced that much hardware and didn't suspect an OS problem?

Anyhow..

What make of machine?

Do you have a proper windows license key sticker on the case?

[chrisrob]

Thanks for the replies but they're not the answer.
I now have two installations of XP on the machine. The original one presents problems which appear to be hardware. The second works perfectly but is already registered to another machine. I do have the windows key for the legitimate installation but, it appears, not its original installation disc. (I do remember a few years back getting an installation disc caught in the desk drawer and it snapping in half - bet that was the one.)
Guess I may have to buy a new XP disc?

[ChuckFickens]

"This copy will never run out, and you can use as many times you want to on any computer/laptop. "

So it is an illegal copy then!

Chrisrob.

There are only a couple of different versions of the windows CD and license and the only ones you would have are either OEM or retail, all you need to do is find a CD of the same version and there shouldn't be a problem registering it with the key you have on the COA stuck to the case.

Look on the sticker on the case and if it's an OEM version it will say OEM on it, if it's a retail version it won't say anything other than the key number, which do you have?