uninstall xp to use on another computer

[dalew80]

I bought xp home and installed it then I bought xp professional and I want to
install it on the computer I installed xp home. I want to use the xp home on
another computer how do I install xp professional and uninstall xp home so I
can use the product key for xp home again?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I bought xp home and installed it then I bought xp professional and I want to
install it on the computer I installed xp home. I want to use the xp home on
another computer how do I install xp professional and uninstall xp home so I
can use the product key for xp home again?

A couple of points:

1. Did you buy Retail copies or OEM copies? If the former, just
reinstall to your liking. But if the latter, be aware that one of the
major disadvantages of OEM versions (and the reason I recommend
against getting them) is that their EULA permanently ties a copy to
the first machine it's installed on; it may never be reinstalled on
another.

2. Why do you want/need Professional on either machine as opposed to
Home? XP Professional and XP Home are exactly the same in all
respects, except that Professional has a few features (mostly related
to networking and security) missing from Home. For most (but not all)
home users, even those with a home network, these features aren't
needed, would never be used, and buying Professional instead of Home
is a waste of money. In general, unless you need to join a domain, you
probably don't need Professional.

 

[Richard in AZ]

|I bought xp home and installed it then I bought xp professional and I want to
| install it on the computer I installed xp home. I want to use the xp home on
| another computer how do I install xp professional and uninstall xp home so I
| can use the product key for xp home again?

If both copies are full MS copies, no problem.
Use the XP Pro to do a clean install on the first computer. That will format the drive and clean
of the Home Version.
Then use the Home version to do a clean install on another computer.

Both will require activation, via the internet or phone. The internet activation should go smoothly
if you have not activated either in the last 120 days. In either case the phone activation should
be accepted.

 

[Mick Murphy]

In Bios/setup, set your CD/DVD drive to be 1st in the Boot Order.
At your startup screen near the bottom, there should be either F1, F2, or
Delete, to enter Bios/Setup; or F12 for the Boot Menu.
Set it from one or the other.

Insert XP Pro disk in CD Drive, reboot, press any Key, load files, delete
existing XP partition, make new Partition, format it, install XP Pro.
All info is on XP Pro disk for the above install

If XP Home is not OEM, install on another computer; and you will probably
have to reactivate by phone.