Hi,
Pull up a chair and read through this tale, it will be a long one.
I've got a problem and need your thoughts.
I know that any XP key change hacks discussions are not allowed here and I agree wholeheartedly...however I find myself in a situation that can't be explained without bringing it up.
I oversee two Non Profit Organization's computers, network and websites. One place is very small and they know nothing about computers at all other than they need them (only one main comp) to do email and a newsletter.
This place is over 100 miles from me and if there is a comp emergency they know it will take some time for me to get to them.
They had a legit Dell computer with Windows Me installed, that had been networked to one other computer by a kid that appeared to know what he was doing. (These folks are trusting and at the mercy of anyone that claims to know computing).
Well... I get a call that when they shut down the main computer the machine asks if they really want to do that....there are other users on the network and would be disconnected if they shut down....hmm.
Feeling that they may have a trojan I have them disconnect their dial up phone line except when they check email and I would be out on the weekend to remove the trojan and check things out.
They are stuck in the middle of nowhere, out in the desert, with a very bad dial up. I started downloading Spybot S&D , Ad Aware etc.... to take with me.
By the time I get out to them someone else had "helped" them out. Reformated the comp and installed XP Pro. Cool! (I thought).
When I asked for the install disk they had no idea what I was talking about....There was none.
Great!! I have to assume this is a pirated version.
Long story short... every attempt to contact the "friend" that installed XP has failed. He has stood me up several times for a meeting.....
There are several organizations that help Non Profits with software purchases and I have bought legit, legal, totally up n up versions of XP Pro, Office XP et all for them( all of which took time). But the question remains.....
Is there any way for me to make the current copy of XP legal without a reformat?
Any disruption in their comp is very distressing to these folks. They managed to get some files restored after the original reformat but it was painful and many files were lost.
Can I fall on my sword at the foot of Microsoft tech support and tell them this story to get a legal key change on the system?
Your thoughts and experiences are most welcome!!
PM me if response to this post is inappropriate.
Thanks!!!
ps: I would also like to make the install secure and limit install permissions to only the admin... and hide that account from general viewing. Any ideas on this are also welcome.
Pull up a chair and read through this tale, it will be a long one.
I've got a problem and need your thoughts.
I know that any XP key change hacks discussions are not allowed here and I agree wholeheartedly...however I find myself in a situation that can't be explained without bringing it up.
I oversee two Non Profit Organization's computers, network and websites. One place is very small and they know nothing about computers at all other than they need them (only one main comp) to do email and a newsletter.
This place is over 100 miles from me and if there is a comp emergency they know it will take some time for me to get to them.
They had a legit Dell computer with Windows Me installed, that had been networked to one other computer by a kid that appeared to know what he was doing. (These folks are trusting and at the mercy of anyone that claims to know computing).
Well... I get a call that when they shut down the main computer the machine asks if they really want to do that....there are other users on the network and would be disconnected if they shut down....hmm.
Feeling that they may have a trojan I have them disconnect their dial up phone line except when they check email and I would be out on the weekend to remove the trojan and check things out.
They are stuck in the middle of nowhere, out in the desert, with a very bad dial up. I started downloading Spybot S&D , Ad Aware etc.... to take with me.
By the time I get out to them someone else had "helped" them out. Reformated the comp and installed XP Pro. Cool! (I thought).
When I asked for the install disk they had no idea what I was talking about....There was none.
Great!! I have to assume this is a pirated version.
Long story short... every attempt to contact the "friend" that installed XP has failed. He has stood me up several times for a meeting.....
There are several organizations that help Non Profits with software purchases and I have bought legit, legal, totally up n up versions of XP Pro, Office XP et all for them( all of which took time). But the question remains.....
Is there any way for me to make the current copy of XP legal without a reformat?
Any disruption in their comp is very distressing to these folks. They managed to get some files restored after the original reformat but it was painful and many files were lost.
Can I fall on my sword at the foot of Microsoft tech support and tell them this story to get a legal key change on the system?
Your thoughts and experiences are most welcome!!
PM me if response to this post is inappropriate.
Thanks!!!
ps: I would also like to make the install secure and limit install permissions to only the admin... and hide that account from general viewing. Any ideas on this are also welcome.
Comment