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__sarah__ · Nov 17, 2004, 06:04 PM

i can't update my windows xp...sometimes a bubble will pop up in my taskbar and say "new updates are available"...i'd click on it and it will ask me to install the new updates...it would go into the process of installing then stop and say something like "the cd key is not valid"...then it will end up not installing....wut should i do? :confused:

psi42 · Nov 17, 2004, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by __sarah__

i can't update my windows xp...sometimes a bubble will pop up in my taskbar and say "new updates are available"...i'd click on it and it will ask me to install the new updates...it would go into the process of installing then stop and say something like "the cd key is not valid"...then it will end up not installing....wut should i do? :confused:

Are you using a "pirate" CD key?

__sarah__ · Nov 17, 2004, 06:40 PM

what's a pirate cd key?

psi42 · Nov 17, 2004, 08:51 PM

When you install windows, you are prompted to enter a CD key. If your computer was built for you by someone else, it is possible they installed windows (and entered the key) for you. Each copy of windows comes with its own unique CD key.

Now let's say you wanted to install windows, but had no CD key, and didn't want to buy one. One option would be to "find" a CD key on the internet or somewhere else, and use it instead. So you would grab it from a list of "pirate" CD keys to install windows without a license.

This is copyright infringement, because Microsoft's license doesn't allow you to do that. Microsoft doesn't like when people do that, so it is possible they are preventing people with these popular CD keys from updating windows. Maybe (I don't know).

So, see if you can find you windows "certificate of authenticity." If you've got one, your copy is probably legit.

Who installed windows for you?

__sarah__ · Nov 18, 2004, 08:22 PM

Somebody else installed it for me... I dun think we bought it.. :o

So I won't be able to update windows, unless I buy windows xp and install it again on my computer?

Wendy225 · Jan 18, 2005, 08:23 PM

The only way to get a cheap WinXp that I know of is, if you know of a friend or relative in College, most college school stores, sell WinXp for under $10 or so to students with proper ID. :)