Things not do when drunk.

1. Attempt to repair a Windows XP laptop.

Let me explain: Daughter comes back from university for the weekend. I manage to grab her laptop to install her new printer and notice that the Windows Updates are failing - like, all of them.

Time & wine pass.

Seems like a good idea to repair Windows using my genuine1 XP Pro CD. The install fails for some reason with a CRC error on D:\I386\NT5.CAT. I scan the internet and get advised to rename CATROOT & CATROOT2 directories and try again. I reinstall and it works but I now get asked to put in the product key. And here where it all goes wrong due to Mr Merlot. I enter *my* product key from the disc. Bill says no and I'm stuffed. Whenever I try to log on, I get "please activate your copy of XP" and I can go no further.

(lots of stuff deleted here about trying illegal keygens etc etc...)

I panic (she needs the PC for uni) and buy a copy from eBay from the same bloke that I bought my copy from.

My internet goes T/U2 when the clocks go back. I go to bed at 01:30 (or is that 02:30?)

In the morning I have a plan and email the chap on eBay to send me the product key.

"What are you doing?", ask my wife. I explain.
"Um, isn't the product key on the bottom of the laptop?"
"bugger"

Anyone want a copy of XP Prof SP2?
1No really, I paid good money for this on eBay from a bloke in Germany.
2Tits up

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