The title says it really. Is there any way to tell if the copy of XP Pro running on my machine is genuine?

I use an Acer laptop. It originally ran Vista Home Premium. I had a screen problem and took it to a dealer. They fixed the problem but said I'd have to reinstall Vista (I have backup disks) but in the meantime they'd loaded a copy of XP Pro.

I much prefer the XP Pro build to Vista which I hated, its also got Kaspersky anti-virus and MS office which I didn't have before. I want to leave it on but I'd like to know if the copy of XP Pro is legit to avoid problems in future. So far I've refused to accept XP updates just in case it causes grief.

Another consideration is I had to create the Vista backups myself as Acer don't supply them so there's always the chance I could have grief trying to reinstall Vista.

I guess, you not need to be a rocket scientist to work this out, any shop who reinstalls Windows, you can bet it is 98% a none genuine copy.

The title says it really. Is there any way to tell if the copy of XP Pro running on my machine is genuine?

I use an Acer laptop. It originally ran Vista Home Premium. I had a screen problem and took it to a dealer. They fixed the problem but said I'd have to reinstall Vista (I have backup disks) but in the meantime they'd loaded a copy of XP Pro.

I much prefer the XP Pro build to Vista which I hated, its also got Kaspersky anti-virus and MS office which I didn't have before. I want to leave it on but I'd like to know if the copy of XP Pro is legit to avoid problems in future. So far I've refused to accept XP updates just in case it causes grief.

Another consideration is I had to create the Vista backups myself as Acer don't supply them so there's always the chance I could have grief trying to reinstall Vista.

Unfortunately you can be almost sure that XP Pro is a counterfeit copy especially if it has MS Office with it. If you bought the Acer in Thailand, there is a good chance that Vista is also bogus. Try the Microsoft update and you will know in short order. They offer a way to get a legal copy and I don't think you will have any problems from Microsoft.

The title says it really. Is there any way to tell if the copy of XP Pro running on my machine is genuine?

I use an Acer laptop. It originally ran Vista Home Premium. I had a screen problem and took it to a dealer. They fixed the problem but said I'd have to reinstall Vista (I have backup disks) but in the meantime they'd loaded a copy of XP Pro.

I much prefer the XP Pro build to Vista which I hated, its also got Kaspersky anti-virus and MS office which I didn't have before. I want to leave it on but I'd like to know if the copy of XP Pro is legit to avoid problems in future. So far I've refused to accept XP updates just in case it causes grief.

Another consideration is I had to create the Vista backups myself as Acer don't supply them so there's always the chance I could have grief trying to reinstall Vista.

If the Vista on your Laptop was pre-installed by Acer, then your HDD probaly has an hidden Partition with the software which was coming with the Laptop. Read the Laptop Manual for to get the Hot-Key to access the hidden partition for to re-install back to the origin state.

The installed XP is likely a pirated version which you can check at the MS website!

Cheers.

The title says it really. Is there any way to tell if the copy of XP Pro running on my machine is genuine?

I use an Acer laptop. It originally ran Vista Home Premium. I had a screen problem and took it to a dealer. They fixed the problem but said I'd have to reinstall Vista (I have backup disks) but in the meantime they'd loaded a copy of XP Pro.

I much prefer the XP Pro build to Vista which I hated, its also got Kaspersky anti-virus and MS office which I didn't have before. I want to leave it on but I'd like to know if the copy of XP Pro is legit to avoid problems in future. So far I've refused to accept XP updates just in case it causes grief.

Another consideration is I had to create the Vista backups myself as Acer don't supply them so there's always the chance I could have grief trying to reinstall Vista.

One of those updates will tell you if you have a genuine copy or not.

It is the Windows Genuine Advantage update.

Cheers

The title says it really. Is there any way to tell if the copy of XP Pro running on my machine is genuine?

I use an Acer laptop. It originally ran Vista Home Premium. I had a screen problem and took it to a dealer. They fixed the problem but said I'd have to reinstall Vista (I have backup disks) but in the meantime they'd loaded a copy of XP Pro.

I much prefer the XP Pro build to Vista which I hated, its also got Kaspersky anti-virus and MS office which I didn't have before. I want to leave it on but I'd like to know if the copy of XP Pro is legit to avoid problems in future. So far I've refused to accept XP updates just in case it causes grief.

Another consideration is I had to create the Vista backups myself as Acer don't supply them so there's always the chance I could have grief trying to reinstall Vista.

One of those updates will tell you if you have a genuine copy or not.

It is the Windows Genuine Advantage update.

Cheers

I've seen the windows genuine advantage update is waiting. If I install this will it somehow block by PC?

nah at worst it wont allow you to download/install updates from MS. It will also give you a nagging message on start up saying your copy isnt legal etc etc, but i don't think they will lock you out of windows

nah at worst it wont allow you to download/install updates from MS. It will also give you a nagging message on start up saying your copy isnt legal etc etc, but i don't think they will lock you out of windows

Thanx

Open Control Panel and clik on System. If it says your Windows is registered to someone called iLLUSION or something strange like that, it's not a genuine copy.

Acer could have installed their own, OEM version for free, no big deal for them.