A friend of mine,got a copy of xp pro .He used his sister in law 25 digits code,not having the code of the copy, and started the set up.At 34 minutes remaining the all thing crashed,a box appeared stating that an error with security system occured.Now he wants to cancel the set up but can't.Windows wants to keep finishing the set up!But keep crashing,he's stuck in a vicious circle.So he tried to go in safe mode to work something out,but safe mode won't work while xp is setting up !Any idea what he should do?How do you cancel at least?

maybe one of the smarter folks here has a better idea - but you probably can't recover that without a valid XP disc and code.

Good luck

ps. you could try loading a linux OS from the cd drive - then you'd have linux - but at least the computer would run (of course this is my answer to most windows problems!)

mozart56:

My answer to you would be to reformat your disk & then reinstall your old registered Windows OS.

If you do not have an old registered Windows OS, or if your OS came already installed with the CPU & you did not get a CD-ROM copy, then you will have to buy one.

I agree with donald. From what I have heard, the system has a way of determining if the code has been used before or not. One of the students in my last class tried to install someone else's Win XP Office for students and teachers, and it sent a security failure message to him, crashed his system, and sent an auto message to the MS help desk! They are very strict about wanting their (overpriced) payment for their stuff.

I have a copy of XP home with someone else's code and it setup fine and works great. My only problem with it is that I can't download the Windows XP SP1 because it says I don't have a valid key code. (Certificate of Authenticity)

My advice, reformat the drive and restart the setup. Start the setup from the CD and when it asks about which drive to install to delete your current partition and format with the NTFS to your drives maximux capacity.

BTW, I'm very good with computers

So am I but NTFS is not the answer! Stay with FAT32! NTFS won't see from DOS and if U loose your password U're in trouble butr not with FAT32!

Anyway try,

usuing a WIN-95-98-or98-SE boot disk and at the A: prompt type in (FDISK /MBR) Without the () of course!

OR Purchase a copy of XP home at CompUSA for $99! Or if U are a student or know someone who is goto

http://pccdepot.com/cdc_pdetails.asp?id=305106

and buy XP-PRO for about $105 including 2nd day shipping and handeling! Just fax a Student Photo ID with order # on it matching the person buying it! (The Student)! And U save half the price of retail! It's the same thing it just says Academic on the box and CD but inside it's the same thing! OEM versions don't have the Recovery Console! I called MS tech support and he said that! But this one does! And they couldn't tell the difference between this and that! I siad my friend has an academic version and it has a Recovery Console and he said REALLY!

ivnj