Can't log onto windows/desktop

[lconnoll16]

Heres the deal...

i had a version of windows xp which wouldn't allow me to get updates and i kept getting that annoying window come up every time i turned my computer saying i do no have a genuine copy of windows...

my friend gave sent me a program which allowed me to get updates again and after receiving the updates i was asked to restart the computer, so i did...

when the computer restarted, it got to the point where it showed my wallpaper on my desktop but no icons and said something along the lines of 'cant verify your product key for windows' and the error code was '0x80004005'

Has anyone got any idea on how to fix this problem, will it involve buying a genuine windows cd or something?

is there any way of retrieving the photos and word documents which were on the computer as i need most of them for coursework!!

thanks for your help

 

[penfold]

Do you have a valid Windows XP key? If so, call Microsoft and talk to them about it. If not, then, yes, you will need to purchase a valid, genuine copy before you will be able to use it.

 

[sPlAtOiD]

WINPE you can boot from it and retrieve your stuff.