What happens if I don't activate Windows

[AC]

I was hoping you'd tell him after 30 days it would go BACK to WindowsXP!! I don't know how to undo mine. I downloaded a freeware "Windows7 Ultimate" from "on line" and don't remember from where and can't find it on my hd. So I think I just did a "Run"... and didn't save it. I can't find it. It did have me do a back up before I installed it to my external hd, plus I did a back up with wondershare data recovery a few days before that. Have that on a external hd also. I just want Windows7 gone... and have everything the way I had it before. : ( Can't find needed files since I downloaded it. Even the things on my external hd seem to be hiding... Please don't say gone...

I don't really understand what you're saying. Are you saying you downloaded it online? In an exe format? First of all, it should have been ISO I think. I think you'll have to find your XP install disc and reinstall.

 

[bluehue]

Yup thats what I said... I found a free download of Windows7 Ultimate on line... I'm not tech'y and I've tried to find answers to just UNDO it, back it up, wave magic wand, and follow all the instructions and I find myself at steps that had no "next step" to them and got lots trying to fit it back. Like on: How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder Thats if you have a cd/disk. I don't... so I found the command prompt in: 1 Start, 2 All Programs, 3 Accessories, 4 Command Prompt... and went from there... tring anything... I know... I messed up.

 

[Golden]

I was hoping you'd tell him after 30 days it would go BACK to WindowsXP!! I don't know how to undo mine. I downloaded a freeware "Windows7 Ultimate" from "on line" and don't remember from where and can't find it on my hd. So I think I just did a "Run"... and didn't save it. I can't find it. It did have me do a back up before I installed it to my external hd, plus I did a back up with wondershare data recovery a few days before that. Have that on a external hd also. I just want Windows7 gone... and have everything the way I had it before. : ( Can't find needed files since I downloaded it. Even the things on my external hd seem to be hiding... Please don't say gone...

Hi,

It sounds to me like you downloaded and installed a 'cracked' Windows 7. Pirated software often contains malware which will bork your system, and from what you describe that is exactly what is happening to your system.

Your best course of action is to format your HDD/s and then install a genuine version of Windows 7. This forum takes a very dim view of pirated software and we are banned from helping you troubleshoot that further.

Regards,
Golden

 

[pparks1]

Step 1: Place head in hands
Step 2: Shake head back and forth
Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2.

 

[AC]

Yup thats what I said... I found a free download of Windows7 Ultimate on line... I'm not tech'y and I've tried to find answers to just UNDO it, back it up, wave magic wand, and follow all the instructions and I find myself at steps that had no "next step" to them and got lots trying to fit it back. Like on: How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder Thats if you have a cd/disk. I don't... so I found the command prompt in: 1 Start, 2 All Programs, 3 Accessories, 4 Command Prompt... and went from there... tring anything... I know... I messed up.

Well, you broke the law. You can now spend 119.99 US Dollars to go buy Windows 7 Home Premium, and become legal, or install another LEGAL version of Windows.
Have a nice day- ubunturules

 

[bluehue]

ubunturules dear... I didn't break any law, and know it...lol It said free... and I believed it.
I'm sure NOT buying Windows7! I don't want anything to do with it after trying it.
I'm pulling out my WindowsXP and getting that back on here. I thought I was trying something out.

parks1... Yup that's me right now.

Golden... I was praying someone had an out for me. I downloaded it 3 days ago and have been trying to UNDO it ever since.

I'm sad and upset with myself that I fell for that and now I'm stuck... I see others getting out of trouble with posts on here. Was HOPING there was good news for me to.

Thanks anyhow...

 

[NoelDP]

WHat you installed was a heavily hacked version of Windows which probably bears no relation to the real thing.
We have no idea what that installation is or does, unless you can give more details, so the only thing we can realistically advise is for you to reformat and reinstall the original operating system with which your computer shipped.

On the other hand, if you want to test a real Windows 7 installation, again we have no idea about your machine's hardware, and so cannot advise whether it would work properly in the first place (which is probably part of your problem with the current installation).

 

[pparks1]

ubunturules dear... I didn't break any law, and know it...lol It said free... and I believed it.

There is a certain amount of responsibility that you have to take here. It's hard to believe that anybody thinks there is a "free" version of Windows 7 out there.

I'm sure NOT buying Windows7! I don't want anything to do with it after trying it.

You tried a pirated, perhaps spyware/malware infested copy of Windows 7, and have written it off based on that. That's like saying, I bought this cheap Rolex knock off and the band broke, there is no way in the world I would EVER buy a real Rolex as the bands are cheaply made.

 

[AC]

ubunturules dear... I didn't break any law, and know it...lol It said free... and I believed it.

There is a certain amount of responsibility that you have to take here. It's hard to believe that anybody thinks there is a "free" version of Windows 7 out there.

I'm sure NOT buying Windows7! I don't want anything to do with it after trying it.

That's like saying, I bought this cheap Rolex knock off and the band broke, there is no way in the world I would EVER buy a real Rolex as the bands are cheaply made.

Exactly. Case closed. It's not my favorite Windows OS, but it certainly is the best and most secure.

 

[bluehue]

I am older and understood this to be 30 days and then activate and pay for it... Free to start it up. Not totally free. I have cleared it off of my pc... by totally clearing my pc. Now I have am stuck... and using a lil' Samsung netbook(now that's STUCK! lol). I does have Windows7 that a paid for. I also see since checking for a new DeLL pc that all I can get is Windows7. I also see they offer right now for $15.00 to add Windows8... Then I read to save my money on the one they offer. I was told by someone that WinXP is sooo hacked... and to give up Norton. Windows7 comes with a virus protection... I'm truly no tech... I don't know how you figure it out anymore..lol. I tried to reload my windowsXP after clearing my laptop and that didn't happen. Files missing. So I burn a gparted-live-0.12.1-5 image(iso) to a cd and reboot with that. Nothing worked. WindowsXP would not reload. I cant go buy another laptop right now... so I was trying to get things back working on my own by following leads from places like this. Since NOTHING seems to be working right I am afraid to venture out to buy a windows7 program. Right now I have no reason to believe when I load it... that it'll work either. I don't know...

If I left some explinations out... sorry. Just ask.

 

[bluehue]

...and no I wouldn't ever use WindowsXP without a virus protection. Just saying what I was told about how bad Windows XP is and that with Windows7 I wouldn't need it.

Taking notes and doing the best I can with what I have... like everyone.

 

[NoelDP]

There is not an Operating System on the planet which is safe to use anywhere near the internet without Anti-Virus.

Certain users like to think that they are invulnerable - invariably they spend more time in avoidance than woulld be taken in prevention, and that fails eventually.

Windows 7 is less vulnerable than XP mostly because of the reduced exposure surface brought about by the existence of User Access Control. NOTHING will protect the incautious user, and no protection is perfect.
Always be wary when on the internet - an incautious click can result in an infection which can mean having to reinstall from scratch.

Always read warning messages from either your OS or security software - they are there for a reason, and if you just click through them you risk compounding an error or infection.

 

[NoelDP]

I am older and understood this to be 30 days and then activate and pay for it... Free to start it up. Not totally free. I have cleared it off of my pc... by totally clearing my pc. Now I have am stuck... and using a lil' Samsung netbook(now that's STUCK! lol). I does have Windows7 that a paid for.

I also see since checking for a new DeLL pc that all I can get is Windows7. I also see they offer right now for $15.00 to add Windows8... Then I read to save my money on the one they offer. I was told by someone that WinXP is sooo hacked... and to give up Norton. Windows7 comes with a virus protection... I'm truly no tech... I don't know how you figure it out anymore..lol.

I tried to reload my windowsXP after clearing my laptop and that didn't happen. Files missing. So I burn a gparted-live-0.12.1-5 image(iso) to a cd and reboot with that. Nothing worked. WindowsXP would not reload.

I cant go buy another laptop right now... so I was trying to get things back working on my own by following leads from places like this. Since NOTHING seems to be working right I am afraid to venture out to buy a windows7 program.

Right now I have no reason to believe when I load it... that it'll work either. I don't know...

If I left some explinations out... sorry. Just ask.

I'm confused - in one sentence you say you have a Windows7 that you paid for - and later you say that you'll have to go out and buy one.
Which is it?

You can reformat and reinstall your XP using only the XP installation disk - unless you've done something silly with the gparted utility.
What exactly did you do?

Yes, Norton is over-rated as protection, and is extremely complex to use properly. For the average user, the Free Microsoft Security Essentials is far more appropriate, and just as effective.

 

[bluehue]

nope... I said after 30 days I would then pay for the windows7.

but this case is now closed. I never got that computer working.
Better to work with one person to get it working. I can't do it with
what I am getting here. No one's fault but my own.

Thanks to everyone who tried to help me

Lil' Mrs

Mrs

 

[NoelDP]

You're welcome- good luck!

 

[keithnh]

My 5

Joined this site to hopefully gain insight to a similar issue. Recently purchased 3 older computers as I wasnt sure I could get mine running again, needed 2 and wanted a backup for each plus a portable. I did however, finally beat the old P4 into submission, she's still griping a little but running very nice better than ever really. A battle but I am an old technician and enjoy fighting and winning/learning little tech battles. Am trying to get my feet wet in pc familiarity and was hoping to learn some from each box. I began my PC days with an 8088 Packard Bell computer many moons ago. Trying to first get all to POST, boot to a legal recoverable Windows product, gain internet access with both wifi and ethernet, install my Norton 360, all with fastest full boat memory the factory mobo's can use reliably. My originally purchased computers seem to run nicely with genuine XP software on auto update + Norton 360.

Bought new ...

HP DX2000 P4E 3.0/4GB/XP SP3
Gateway MX6121 Celeron 1.5/2GB/XP SP3

Just purchased ...

Gateway GR420 P4 2.96/1GB/XP SP3 - Someone put Win7Ult no backup on
Gateway GT5404 Dual core/1GB/Vista Home Premium - Someone put Win8 no backup on
HP DX2400 Dual core/2GB/Vista Business

Would like to revert the 2 Gateway desktops from their current os to the ms box label os using the box label keys. I believe the hard drives are original as they are correct type and size.

Have 2 copies of Win 7 Home Premium for refurbished pc's with COA and key/ brownish MS stickers was hoping on installing on my favorite boxes once they are all up and running and I have decided which ones.

Have 1 copy of Win XP for refurbished pc's with no COA and key or sticker. Thought it was just the media and I could activate with the box key alone. When I read further on the clamshell insert it says the coa on a sticker that should be with it "Must" be used to activate. Thought this was the correct way to get back to the original os that the hard drive must have a record of somewhere. My thought is the original os was purchased with the box, so the ms label on it indicates. I bought the box, so I paid for it. There must be a way I can gain access to it without having to pay again for it.

 

[NoelDP]

XP installs are very fussy about the relationship between the install disk and the Key.
Vista and Win7 don't really care - it's the Key that defines both the OS install and the Channel type (especially if you tweak a retail ISO a little before burning it to disk)
I suspect that a refurb disk will be identical to an OEM System Builder disk - so it should work with the COA Key - but I've never got my hands on one to play with.

I had Vista running OK on a Sempron x64 when it was released - so Win7 may work on that P4 of yours, depending on the motherboard and driver support (Win7's inbuilt driver set is fairly amazing - it needed to be after the hash they made of Vista's).

Pretty much anything built for Vista should run Win 7 OK - again, depending on driver support. A Vista Business PC with only 2GB would tend to indicate that it's an early one (early home PC's were 1GB and suffered terribly from it), but 2GB is enough to for RAM not to be too much of a limiter (4GB is better if the motherboard will take it - and you can find some!)

Hope that helps a little?

 

[keithnh]

Really the XP reversion on the Gateway P4 I just wanted to do to see how to and that it could be done. And to end up with a legal serviceable OS. That hard drive initially ran the Win 7 Ultimate someone had put on it but I immediately installed norton 360 5.0 on it and then had it do a windows update. It had downloaded 135 updates and I tried to install them all and it froze, then would not boot to windows with any method I tried. I did let it sit unplugged for about a week then fired it up and it came up and did boot into Win7 fine. ???? When I went to shut down it said "installing update 1 of 3", left on all night ... in the morning I get up still "installing update 1 of 3" when I pull plug then try to restart it will not boot into windows, no POST error indications, the same way as before. Went to command line and chdsk c: /f several times no errors then chkdsk c: /R no errors. Wish I had known about MGADiag.exe I would have seen if it came up Genuine and gave numbers I could have reinstalled with. One of my iterations of t/s had come to an endpoint indicating I needed the original os disks which I dont have making me suspect it was sniffing an unauthorized Win7 install. I then went to command line and performed format C: /q . May have been a mistake as I think for my XP media disks to work with the box COA keys I might have had to uninstall the windows 7 Ultimate installation first. Am at that point now with the Gateway P4. Think I had put the XP media disk in while it was running again and there were 4 selections but the "Install windows XP" was not available. Serious head banging ... A nice original sata 2 250GB drive in this p4 dont want to pitch it. Have to dig some more.

Was wondering what about Win7 made it so much more internet secure ... I see someone mentioned in this thread it was User Access Control, I think the DX2400 Im on now with Vista Business has that as it popped up whether to turn it off or not, I did momentarily for some reason then back on. I really like this little HP, smaller than the Gateways, seems a little more concise, maybe just aesthetics ... I like short and sweet. I like the Vista Business as well but am not well versed in usage comparisons of OS's primarily aesthetics is what I like. Vista support scheduled to end 2017 I think 7 2020. XP through 8.1 shows that 4GB ram is max usable on Wikipedia OS comparison chart. Not sure what would impact my usage other than internet security and ability to continuosly update. I know DDR2 faster than DDR.

Plan to load all 4 desktops with 4gb of the fastest they support ... dx2000 already there happy and singing my Celeron laptop is maxed at 2GB DDR2 happy and singing as well.

 

[NoelDP]

It's partly UAC, and partly an inherently more secure back-end. Now that XP is no longer receiving updates, the holes in its security are only going to grow, and it'll become something that you *really* don't want on the internet without serious third-party support (AV/Firewall, etc.) in fairly short order - the same way that XP RTM/SP1 became 'dangerous' in 2003/4, before the Windows Firewall was activated by default on install (in SP2).

Vista/7's coding spends a lot of time doing self-checks to make sure that the OS is doing what it should be doing (at least compared to Win 9x/2K/NT and XP RTM/SP1, where such checks were almost non-existent - although still relatively few clock-cycles overall)

 

[keithnh]

Well I always have Norton 360 on. I know everyone talks it down. I remember it there when I was first diddling with my 8088 boo-koo years ago. It was before internet when it just cleaned up the hard drive. Lotus 123 was king. Seems like I never have bugs until my Norton scrip runs out then whamo. I bought Wipe-drive thinking I would always have legitimate software and keep my files on floppy then just use it when I have a problem, maybe keep a spare drive to use if I dont want to do that. Then activation comes along making the spare infeasible if I dont want to keep lining Mr Gates pockets or waiting for hours on the telephone. Was wondering if he is paying hackers to find holes in older programs and then pester people till they keep upgrading to each new OS he wants to sell. Why do it otherwise?