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OK My Friends! I believe that I have a "bogus", [not genuine], OS. It says that it's Microsoft Windows XP?

Professional Service Pack 3, however, it did not pass "Validation", (my PC is really running crappy), so what I intend to do is purchase a "Genuine" XP Pro SP3 OS and download it myself. The Question is, I've never done such a feat before, so I'd like to know if I CAN do it and how difficult will it be and how do I do it without losing ALL my files and programs that are already on my PC. THX Guys & Gals!!

Update:

ps. Where is the best place to purchase Window XP Pro SP3??

3 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago

    hi there:

    i just copy paste it to you on a certain site.

    its a violation already to answer ur question.

    In your tray, you will also notice a WGA icon telling you that you may be a victim of software counterfeiting.

    Here's how to get rid of it.

    The Long Way:

    The longer way is to restart your computer and go into Safe Mode. If you do not know how to boot into safe mode, view our tutorial. Once in safe mode, non-essential programs will not run, including WgaTray.exe (the Windows Genuine Advantage program). Once in Safe Mode go to C:\Windows\System32\ and locate and delete WgaTray.exe

    Tongue outCheat notes for computer savy users:

    Restart your computer and boot into safe mode (press F8 while you restart your computer)

    In Safe mode browse to C:\Windows\System32\

    Search for WgaTray.exe and Delete it.

    Reboot your computer and you are done.

    The Quick but more difficult way (requires speed):

    If you do not want to restart your computer and get into Safe Mode, you can do it in the following way. This requires a bit of speed with both the mouse and keyboard because every time you close the WgaTray.exe process, it will restart itself in less than a second.

    Go to C:\Windows\System32\ and locate WgaTray.exe and highlight it. Trying to delete this right now will not work since WgaTray.exe is currently running. Next press ctrl+alt+del and select the process tab. Find WgaTray.exe in the list. To make it easier to find it, you can sort the list in alphabetical order by clicking the Process title at the top. Highlight WgaTray.exe.

    Here's where your speed comes in. You have to end the WgaTray.exe process and then quickly go to the other window and delete WgaTray.exe.

    Tip: Press end process then enter, then alt+tab, then delete, then enter. This is the sequence you should go through.

    Note: If you do not delete WgaTray.exe before the program restarts itself, you will not be able to delete it. You will have to try again.

    In both cases, continue with the following steps.

    Next go to C:\Windows\System32\dllcache\ and delete WgaTray.exe here also.

    Next you have to modify your registry.

    Press the Start Button > Run and type regedit and then press enter.

    Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify and delete the WGALOGON folder.

    That's all you have to do, now you are WGA free. Just make sure you don't automatically install the WGA update again. Restart your computer to see if you did it correctly. The WGA logo should not appear on your login screen.

  • 1 decade ago

    You will have to backup anything you want to save to CDs or a Portable drive before you perform a system restore with a new operating system. When you install that operating system it will format your hard drive and you'll lose anything you have on the computer.

    Be sure to get a full version clean install copy of XP and not an upgrade.

    http://www.tek-micro.com/products/Microsoft-Window...

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    or just buy a lic from microsoft.

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