AboutMike Dacre Expertise I am proficient with all windows platforms. Installation and maintenance
of home/business networks and small business servers.
windows Vista and XP questions please but I will answer win 2000 as well. If your system is older then that, then your problem is your operating system is just too old to be using on the internet!
Expert: Mike Dacre Date: 7/3/2008 Subject: Is my xp counterfit
Question I recently purchased a tiny pc, it already had windows xp on it however I couldnt install a flash player, I spoke to someone that I used to work with who is generally quite clever with pc's. He installed windows xp service pack 2 but now I keep on getting warnings that my windows xp may be counterfeit. How do I remove service pack 2 and go back to my old xp? My ex work colleuge has left the country for a couple of months but my pc is running really slow now!!
HELP!!
Answer Hello,
Yes, it does sound like you may have had the original windows overwritten with a version that was not with the original license. On the side of the pc somewhere, should be the license key for the version of windows you have. To explain this more I will provide a link to Microsoft here:
To fix this however, would mean to actually purchase a legitimate copy first and foremost. No, you can't simply uninstall the service pack and hope things will be the way they were. In fact there is a third service pack that needs to be installed, as well as probably many other updates and from the sounds of it, the system needs some serious optimizing with regards to the spyware/malware issues that are causing the slowness. For this I suggest visiting my website at http://tpsconsulting.com and read the TIPS page on OPTIMIZING your computer. Then go to the SOFTWARE/SUPPORT page where I suggest installing all the programs from the PINK section as they will help with the cleaning/removal and ongoing maintenance from the spyware/malware issues.
You can attempt a windows REPAIR installation but that too will require the original windows cd which it sounds like you do not have. If you do want to correct the counterfeit issues, you will need to find (through a friend or associate, the correct version of windows disk so that when you perform the WINDOWS REPAIR) it will fix the error message you are getting. Again, referring back to the microsoft link to determine by the sticker on your computer, what version you will require.
To learn how to perform the windows repair, go back to my TIPS page and this time, read the VARIOUS WINDOWS XP TWEAKS tip.
