Chris asked:

kept restarting itself for several days, I reinstalled the computer with a pirated XP by using the CD drive to the default C:\partition(20GB). When I found out that it was a new partition and the old inaccessible partition was still there. I reinstalled in the second hard disk (D:\) Then I reduced the size of the F:\ partition(to increase the C partition) with a hard disk management program and have deleted some information in that drive which was originally the (D:\)drive. I then reinstalled with another pirated copy of XP with updates included. I tried going to the Microsoft Download Center to get some software which required the validating process. .. I think Microsoft detected that my pc is an OEM pc and downloaded a Windows Key Update tool. I tried using the OEM Certificate of Authenthicity Product Key number but it didn’t tally. The certificate had been there since I bought the computer, from a reputable chain store. It’s an iMedia M8220MDRW model. Why isn’t the number valid?
Will it help if I reinstall with another pirated copy of XP Home Edition? .. .. By the way, I have actually bought an original Vista Home Premium DVD OEM version too but am reluctant to install it because I’m afraid my hardware cannot support it. I have also tried using the Vista Upgrade Advisor It says I only needed to upgrade the video card but I still think my Pentium 4, 2.2 GHz is too slow for Vista. Besides my 2nd hard disk is only 80GB with only the 38GB E partition available to install Vista…… too small. (20GB were used to install Linux Ubuntu which Windows won’t recognised) and won’t let me access it.