Tricky windows problem.

I seem to have reactivated my windows installation too many times and my copy of windows doesn't seem to register. So, after one too many times trying to contact Microsoft, i used "illegal" (considering i actually bought the thing in the first place) methods to get it working again.

Now, because i don't have a valid version of windows (even though i paid for it...) i downloaded the SP2 of windowsXP. Now, problem being it seems to be a full installation of windows, with SP2. Will doing a repair install effectively take me to SP2?

I'm basically wondering if i can somehow extract the files needed to upgrade to SP2. I know this looks as if i've just stole it it, but i paid for it in the first place...

You can get SP2 here. 266mb download but the server is fast - took about 9 minutes for me.

Alternatively, ring the Microsoft helpline - that's what I did when g/f's OS complained about the same problem. They gave me a new key and that was that.

All you need to do is call the activation number that comes up during the activation process of Windows. When it tells you it can't register, it will give a phone number, call it.

You will talk to a human and he/she will basically ask you if you promise that you are not pirating the software. :) Then they will activate it for you. I work at a company that does software development and we reinstall a lot. So, being the IT guy, I call MS a lot to get them to reactivate copies of Windows that have been activated too many times, or had hard drives changed, etc...

Ah thanks guys :o) It's a daft idea anyways the activation thingy.

Thanks again :o)