I have a 'vanilla' copy of XP Pro loaded on my computer
and want to load a legal copy of XP Home. Can I do this
safely over the top of the illegal copy or do I have to
do a complete replacement? (I want to save my files and
settings etc)
How do I do it if it is possible?

Cheers

No, you cannot directly install XP Home over XP Pro.
You'll have to start from scratch by deleting the XP Pro
partition, create a new partition, format the partition
(preferably NTFS) and install XP Home "clean".

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Laurie Handcock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message:
news:1f4fd01c4583a$2c7614a0$(E-Mail Removed)...

|I have a 'vanilla' copy of XP Pro loaded on my computer
| and want to load a legal copy of XP Home. Can I do this
| safely over the top of the illegal copy or do I have to
| do a complete replacement? (I want to save my files and
| settings etc)
| How do I do it if it is possible?
|
| Cheers

Greetings --

The only way to change from WinXP Pro to WinXP Home is to
format the drive and start over. There is no supported downgrade path
or technique.

Simply boot from the WinXP Home installation CD. You'll be
offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as
part of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the
order of boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH


"Laurie Handcock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:1f4fd01c4583a$2c7614a0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have a 'vanilla' copy of XP Pro loaded on my computer
> and want to load a legal copy of XP Home. Can I do this
> safely over the top of the illegal copy or do I have to
> do a complete replacement? (I want to save my files and
> settings etc)
> How do I do it if it is possible?
>
> Cheers
>