Can I upgrade from 2000 to XP without formatting the HD?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robert S
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Robert S

We have 3 PCs in our office that are running Win2000. A number of
applications no longer run on Win2000 (eg PC-cillin). We wish to upgrade
these to XP. Is it possible to do this using the OEM XP installation disks
that came with the PCs? If not, is there any way that we can do this? I
tried it on a dummy installation of Win2000 and there was no upgrade option
when I booted off an XP disk.

--
 
No. An OEM cd does not offer upgrade functionality. That's why they are
marked "For use with a new computer or a computer without an operating
system." That's why you saw the message that upgrade is not an option. An
OEM cd can only do a clean install of Windows.

A retail XP Professional cd, either upgrade edition or full edition, can
upgrade a Windows 2000 Professional installation as you are wanting to do.
 
Purchase Windows XP Professional and do the upgrade from the Windows 2000
desktop. Remove antivirus and CD Writing software first. Check to ensure
there are XP specific drivers for the computer hardware if available.
 
We do have genuine XP OEM licences for all machines. Is it possible (and
legal) to purchase ONE full version of XP, use the disk to do the upgrade on
all machines, but use the licence keys from the OEM disks?

We initially purchased the PCs with XP licences, but installed Win2000 on
them, because the whole office ran on 2000.
 
No. Regrettably, you cannot use the OEM product keys with a retail XP Pro
cd. Retail product keys are interchangeable between upgrade and full
editions of XP, but OEM pks are not usable with them.

Since you have only three computers in this scenario I suggest you purchase
three copies of XP Professional SP2 Upgrade Edition from your approved
vendor list (or whatever your organization calls it). You can also purchase
one copy from a supplier and two more licenses from MS, but the cost of an
additional license is nearly the MSRP of a retail copy so I suspect that you
will save money simply shopping around among your suppliers for the best
price for three retail copies.

It sounds like there are software issues that prevent you from just saving
the files and settings for each computer and then doing a clean install with
OEM copies of XP Pro but that would be your least expensive route. Not that
there is that much difference in expense between OEM and Upgrade Edition
copies, but a buck's a buck. On the other hand, the personnel time required
to do a migration for only three machines is probably more expensive than
just buying the upgrade editions. You'll have to make that call yourself.

If you do not have a volume license agreement with MS or a partner, consider
getting one for the future.
 
No. Won't work. OEM Licenses don't satisfy XP Retail versions. While you
could do the upgrade when you went to swap keys they simply would not be
accepted. OEM versions are cheaper for a reason.
 
Robert said:
We have 3 PCs in our office that are running Win2000. A number of
applications no longer run on Win2000 (eg PC-cillin). We wish to upgrade
these to XP. Is it possible to do this using the OEM XP installation disks
that came with the PCs?
Click to expand...



No. OEM CDs cannot, by designed, perform in-place upgrades.

If not, is there any way that we can do this?
Click to expand...


Purchase one WinXP Pro Upgrade license for each computer and use the
Upgrade CD.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Robert said:
We do have genuine XP OEM licences for all machines. Is it possible (and
legal) to purchase ONE full version of XP, use the disk to do the upgrade on
all machines, but use the licence keys from the OEM disks?
Click to expand...


Not possible. Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language
of CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they
are purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for
any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and
vice versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full version
CD, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to install a
retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an English
CD. Bottom line: Product Keys and CD/license types cannot be mixed &
matched.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
I have used upgrade and full edition XP product keys interchangeably with
upgrade edition cd's. Since an upgrade cd does the shiny media validation
prior to entry of the pk anyway, it makes sense. I never knew that worked
until just recently myself.
 
Colin said:
I have used upgrade and full edition XP product keys interchangeably
with upgrade edition cd's. Since an upgrade cd does the shiny media
validation prior to entry of the pk anyway, it makes sense. I never
knew that worked until just recently myself.
Click to expand...


Interesting. Now, the $64 question: Was this a one time fluke, or can
it be repeated with any retail key and any retail media (same edition)?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
I've played around with it in connection SP3 here in the last few weeks
testing the new product key functionality. I got curious about how things
really worked with pre-SP3 systems so I tried it with two XP SP2 cd's
(hologrammed) and clean installs on new hard drives just to be sure. I
satisfied myself that a full edition product key worked (why not since the
shiny media check comes before the pk is entered anyway). Then I tried with
a full edition cd and the upgrade edition pks (and why not there too since
you can't get to the point where the pk is entered unless you are using a
full edition cd or the shiny media check has already been done). I didn't
install SP3 during any of these tests. If you have some cd's try it in a
virtual machine.
 
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