I bought a copy off the web of WinXP Pro SP1. When I went to upgrade, Microsoft told me I did not have a valid key. I went back to the vendor and they led me to a patch file that worked after installing and allowed me to function normally. I have since lost my hard drive before I could do another recent back up and lost that patch file. I cannot find the vendor on line again (BIG surprise) and don't remember where that patch file came form. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks

Hey there billos and welcome to PCHF..


Hmmm tricky tricky, this copy of windows that you bought, does it look like a normal windows CD or is it a copy?

• Did you receive the booklet and key when you bought the software?
• Did you install your copy of windows from scratch on the new hard drive with this disk?
• If so do you get through the installation?

Hey Zimbo...thanks for the warm welcome. The XP copy was a download which was burned to a cd as an iso image. It works fine except for the Patch I am missing for this Key.......(yes it has it's own key)

Any ideas??

This sounds like a very dodgy windows you purchased

That is an illegal version of XP im afraid , and that "patch" is an illegal crack. We cant help you with supplying a crack or something like that , obviously since it is illegal , but if you can confince MS you thought it was legal , still have proove of purchase , and can name the person/company where you got it from then MS might be willing to send you an free XP disc.

But since you downloaded it and not bought an "real disc" with manual and packaging , it will be very difficult to convince them of the first..