• Found an 80GB HDD... But somethings wrong!
    10 replies, posted
I recently found an old HDD that my brother obviously used in his original PC. I was hoping I could use it if I ever get enough parts to make a second PC. So I disconnected my current HDD and hooked up the Old one to see if it worked. it loaded till where the login page usually is(on windows start up, I'm assuming it has windows XP professional on it due to the fact that it had the windows XP professional banner on the 'Login Page') and it came up with this message: "This copy of windows did not pass genuine windows validation and you have not yet resolved the problem. This copy of Windows is no longer eligible to receive the full range of upgrades and services from Microsoft To protect your copy of windows, Click resolve now" It came up in the same style dialogue box that you get in most XP things. The options were Resolve Now and Resolve Later. The problem I'm getting is that I can't use my mouse or keyboard to select either of the options. I tried hooking up a basic microsoft mouse and still no bingo. then i used a PS/2 mouse to USB dongle with the basic mouse, but I still couldnt move the cursor. I also tried to use both my current HDD and the older on at once, but it came up with the same message. My current specs: Current HDD: Samsung SP2504C HDD I was trying to test (written on drive): 80GB SATA W.D. Caviar SE also written on the HDD that i was testing was: 'Drive Parameters' : LBA (followed by some numbers) and 80GB Current Mobo: Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.23 GHz GPU: nVidia GeForce GTX 260 PSU: ThermalTake TR2 550W The mice i tested with were my sidewinder X5 and a microsoft basic optical mouse. The keyboard i tested with Was my Sidewinder X6. i know that all of this stuff works normally (apart from the HDD I'm testing of course) The only reason i would like to get this HDD working is so that i save a couple of bucks if i ever build a second PC. When i tested the hard drive i didn't have it mounted in my case because i didn't have enough space. instead, i had my case open and the HDD resting upside down (to how you'd usually have it mounted in your hdd rack) on my desk. Thanks for your help EDIT: never mind everyone.
Well, it's nothing to do with the HDD specifically, it's most likely to do with the software/OS, and judging from it not being activated I am assuming that your brother was up to no good. Now, assuming you do have a genuine XP disc laying around (or other OS) you could simply boot from the disc (the keyboard/mouse shouldn't have any issues as it gets everything it needs from the disc) and then format it entirely and reload the OS in the process.
[QUOTE=Gishank;20661879]Well, it's nothing to do with the HDD specifically, it's most likely to do with the software/OS, and judging from it not being activated I am assuming that your brother was up to no good. Now, assuming you do have a genuine XP disc laying around (or other OS) you could simply boot from the disc (the keyboard/mouse shouldn't have any issues as it gets everything it needs from the disc) and then format it entirely and reload the OS in the process.[/QUOTE] That OS could be perfectly legit. One of Windows' anti-piracy methods is to generate a hash number based on the hardware on the machine it is installed on. If at any time the hardware changes drastically (pretty much only switching computers will do this) then it de-activates itself. @OP Are your keyboard and mouse getting power?
Using a different motherboard will de-activate it.
If you still know the serial, you could call microsoft. If you don't have the case or whatever laying around, use [url]http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/[/url] to grab the old one from the windows install.
Don't you need some kind of proof of ownership (such as a picture of the COA sticker) in order for Microsoft to reset it
[QUOTE=B1N4RY!;20675324]Don't you need some kind of proof of ownership (such as a picture of the COA sticker) in order for Microsoft to reset it[/QUOTE] How do you provide that over the phone :smug:
[QUOTE=B1N4RY!;20675324]Don't you need some kind of proof of ownership (such as a picture of the COA sticker) in order for Microsoft to reset it[/QUOTE] They usually just ask for the serial.
[QUOTE=B1N4RY!;20675324]Don't you need some kind of proof of ownership (such as a picture of the COA sticker) in order for Microsoft to reset it[/QUOTE] Nope, if you get the automated call center (like I always have) then you don't even have to convince a real person, just tell the computer that it's only installed on one computer.
[QUOTE=benjgvps;20675662]How do you provide that over the phone :smug:[/QUOTE] Uh They could be asking you to fax it/email it afterward? [editline]03:15AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Roast Beast;20675776]Nope, if you get the automated call center (like I always have) then you don't even have to convince a real person, just tell the computer that it's only installed on one computer.[/QUOTE] Oh I see..
[QUOTE=Specter;20663409] @OP Are your keyboard and mouse getting power?[/QUOTE] There not getting power Never mind folks. ill just get a new one. thanks for your help though
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