Installing An Upgrade Version of Windows XP on a new Hard Disk

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ben West
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Ben West

I purchased a new hard disk and wish to install the
upgrade version of Windows XP Home on it. However,
Windows XP Home was also installed on the old hard disk
(which I won't be keeping), so what are the issues with
product activation?

I have also purchaed a Shuttle XPC case and some RAM,
which represents a total system upgrade apart from the
CPU and the new hard disk.

Neither of these have been installed. When would be the
wisest time to install the hardware, and to install
Windows XP on the new hard disk? As far as I can see,
there are three possible courses of action:

All of these are preceded by transferring everything
including the OS from the old hard disk to a folder on
the new hard disk. This has to take place before the XPC
case is installed because it only has one drive bay.

1. Install the new hard disk with the new hard disk still
installed. Transfer files then install Windows XP on the
new hard disk. Install other new hardware.
2. Install the new hard disk with the new hard disk still
installed. Transfer files then remove the old hard disk
and install Windows XP on the new hard disk. Install
other new hardware.
3. Install the new hard disk, transfer files. Put
together complete system with XPC case and new hard disk.
Install Windows.

Sorry for the lenghty post. To summarize, what would you
say is the best course of action and are there any
issues, particularily concerning product activation, that
I should be aware of?
 
Ben said:
I purchased a new hard disk and wish to install the
upgrade version of Windows XP Home on it. However,
Windows XP Home was also installed on the old hard disk
(which I won't be keeping), so what are the issues with
product activation?

I have also purchaed a Shuttle XPC case and some RAM,
which represents a total system upgrade apart from the
CPU and the new hard disk.

Neither of these have been installed. When would be the
wisest time to install the hardware, and to install
Windows XP on the new hard disk? As far as I can see,
there are three possible courses of action:

All of these are preceded by transferring everything
including the OS from the old hard disk to a folder on
the new hard disk. This has to take place before the XPC
case is installed because it only has one drive bay.

3. Install the new hard disk, transfer files. Put
together complete system with XPC case and new hard disk.
Install Windows.

Sorry for the lenghty post. To summarize, what would you
say is the best course of action and are there any
issues, particularily concerning product activation, that
I should be aware of?
Click to expand...

I would recommend option 3. First get the files transferred that you
want to the new disk in the old system. Then get the new in the
computer the way you want it in the new case, including the new RAM and
new hard drive.

Then install XP on the new drive. This will allow XP to see everything
as it will be when it is in its final state and properly detect all of
the hardware.

As far as activation issues, that will depend on how long it has been
since you activated windows. In the best case, activation will be
automatic over the internet. But even in the worst case it will only be
a five minute phone call to explain that you have completely upgraded
the computer and now need to activate on the newly upgraded system.
--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP MCE
http://support.telop.org

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.
 
I would install the new HDD and partition and format it by
using the utility on the XP CD.

Then I would clone the system to the new drive by using
the free XXCopy from http://www.xxcopy.com/.

You can then reverse the drives by installing the new
drive on the primary IDE channel as the master drive.

The clone is bootable.

You can check that by making the new drive the first boot
drive in the BIOS.

You can then use the old drive as you please - keep it as
it is, format it and use it for data files or programs. Or
you could format it use XXCopy to clone the system to it
from time to time so that you have a backup. You can use
the free Replicator from http://www.karenware.com/ to
schedule backups from the main system to the clone to keep
it up to date.

Eric,
http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/
http://www.sharedbirthday.co.uk/
 
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