Many Windows XP users out there (not me) cling to their PCs, which came from a small storefront that had a “funny” software license for the operating system. Now they would like to upgrade to Windows 7, but experience strange messages from Microsoft. Is there any way to upgrade?

To crack down on software piracy, Microsoft created its Genuine program so that only legitimate, licensed copies of its software were eligible for upgrades and support. When one tries to use a Windows 7 upgrade disc to update a computer running a counterfeit copy of Windows XP, the most likely result will be a screen full of software activation errors that derails the process.

Buying the full version of Windows 7 (instead of the cheaper upgrade edition) and installing a fresh, legitimate copy of the system is one way to upgrade. This process does involve copying all the personal data from the computer to an external drive before installing Windows 7 — and then copying all the content back after the installation — but it should take care of those Microsoft messages. Just make sure the computer meets the Windows 7 requirements listed here.

Article source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=77eddf298ab68001640acd09433dafb8