Solved How Does One Determine If Windows XP Is Valid And Activated

I purchased a desktop six years ago running XP Professional SP 2, Version 2002. The OS has never once had an update downloaded or applied. According to the Product ID, in System, the OS is retail (No OEM in the ID)
Is there a method to find out if the OS is legal and activated ?

Just go to windows update and run it, it will either verify or it won't.
Microsoft Windows Update


Alternatively (I think this still works I don't have xp personally anymore)
You can open a run box and try this command

Thank You.

...also.....
To properly analyse and solve problems with Activation and Validation, we need to see a full copy of the report produced by the MGADiag tool
(download and save to desktop - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 )
Once saved, run the tool.
Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.
To copy the report to your response, click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages at this point), and then paste (using either r-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into your response.
- **in your own thread**, please

Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine (or inside the battery compartment), but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
How to Tell

the last time i installed xp, i had to install sp3 to access windows update. i don't think sp2 supports updates any longer.

Windows Updates supports ALL windows XP service pack levels, so far as I'm aware - although SP2 would be a basic minimum.
You can install SP2 from a direct download at http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=28

No COA sticker on tower.

The installed Product Key is a Volume Key - probably from MSDN.
Such keys cannot legally be transferred, and require that the machine have a valid full license pre-installed.

The motherboard is a retail one
Since you say that the machine has no COA sticker, then it's not licensed to run Windows unless there is also a Retail (not Volume) license/disk/key accompaying the machine.

Surprisingly, the installation shows as being validated.

The installation is counterfeit.
Obviously, at this distance in time, there is no point in attempting to get redress from your vendor.
In order to get legal, you would have to purchase a full retail license for Windows, and clean-install that.

...kind of figured that was the case for him. Who are these guys constantly spreading around msdn keys? This seems to be happening in large enough numbers for someone to be losing their accounts.

Appreciate the information. I bought this system six years ago. ATT, I never gave the windows installation a second thought although I knew something was amiss when the seller said he didn't provide disks.
Think I'll just part out the system.

I think they are only a year or so away from completely removing the registry for xp.
They aren't making money off new copies anymore, it's only serving as a platform for upgrade kits these days. I've actually started noticing a few games and apps that don't even support it anymore coming on to the market.