downgrading XP

[Guest]

I recently upgraded my main pc from xp home to xp pro. working great. Then
I tried to install the same upgrade on a client computer of mine (to witch
the network is not working but that's another problem) anyway, then i learned
the upgrade is good for one computer only. I cant activate the xp pro
because its already activated through my other computer. So in shrot I need
to unintsall xp pro and go back to xp home, before that whole 30 days thing
runs out. Is there a short way, I tried add\remove programs and xp pro is
not there, nor windows anything.
Help

 

[Tom Willett]

There is no "downgrade" path from Pro to Home. You must reformat the
computer.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

It's a one-way street, you'd need to format and do a clean installation of
the Home version. The "30 day thing" isabout activation, and you've probably
already activated since the second machine was denied.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I recently upgraded my main pc from xp home to xp pro. working
great. Then I tried to install the same upgrade on a client computer
of mine (to witch the network is not working but that's another
problem) anyway, then i learned the upgrade is good for one computer
only.

It's been that way for every version of Windows since at least 3.1.


I cant activate the xp pro because its already activated

through my other computer. So in shrot I need to unintsall xp pro
and go back to xp home, before that whole 30 days thing runs out. Is
there a short way, I tried add\remove programs and xp pro is not
there, nor windows anything.

There is neither a short way nor a long way. There is no way to downgrade to
XP Home. Your only choice to to format the drive and install XP Home
cleanly. Backup your data first and after installing, reload your data and
reinstall all your apps.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I recently upgraded my main pc from xp home to xp pro. working great. Then
I tried to install the same upgrade on a client computer of mine (to witch
the network is not working but that's another problem) anyway, then i learned
the upgrade is good for one computer only. I cant activate the xp pro
because its already activated through my other computer. So in shrot I need
to unintsall xp pro and go back to xp home, before that whole 30 days thing
runs out. Is there a short way, I tried add\remove programs and xp pro is
not there, nor windows anything.
Help

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.

After backing up any data you wish to preserve, 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.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

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

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



--

Bruce Chambers

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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[Ground Cover]

Buy another copy - use the new copy's key during activation.

 

[Harry Ohrn MS MVP]

I do not believe there is an uninstall option when upgrading from Home to
Pro.

 

[Ground Cover]

I was making the suggestion that he just keep it on there. If it refuses to
activate, go out and get another copy and use its key.