Installing Windows over Windows

[Jerry]

I have a shrink wrapped retail version of Win XP Pro that
I've installed and activated on my own computer. I
installed the same disk on a friend's computer to allow
him to test the system without buying his own copy. He's
never activated it, and now wants to buy his own copy and
install and activate that.

Can he install this newly perchased copy of Win XP Pro
over top of the existing one so as not to lose any
applications that have been installed, or in doing so
will all data and applications be wiped clean?

Jerry

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If both of you purchased the same retail version of Windows XP,
then simply changing the Product Key will do the trick.

How To Change the Product Key at the Time of Activation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810892&Product=winxp

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

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

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


|I have a shrink wrapped retail version of Win XP Pro that
| I've installed and activated on my own computer. I
| installed the same disk on a friend's computer to allow
| him to test the system without buying his own copy. He's
| never activated it, and now wants to buy his own copy and
| install and activate that.
|
| Can he install this newly perchased copy of Win XP Pro
| over top of the existing one so as not to lose any
| applications that have been installed, or in doing so
| will all data and applications be wiped clean?
|
| Jerry

 

[Guest]

Carey,

Thank you very much for your help, this makes perfect
sense to me, and I'll forward on the article to my friend
with the suggestion he buy a retail copy of Win XP Pro
and follow the instructions in the article.

Just for the sake of argument, is there a way to do an
installation from a new Win XP Pro disk over top of an
existing installation and keep all the data and apps that
are currently on the hard drive without losing them?
This is more a theoretical issue since what you suggested
seems most practical. I just like knowing how things
work.

Thanks again,
Jerry

 

[Harry Ohrn]

This little app will enable you to do that easily
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/keyfinder.exe Just run the app and use the
Options->change key feature. Reboot and activate.

 

[Debbie]

-----Original Message-----
I have a shrink wrapped retail version of Win XP Pro that
I've installed and activated on my own computer. I
installed the same disk on a friend's computer to allow
him to test the system without buying his own copy. He's
never activated it, and now wants to buy his own copy and
install and activate that.

Can he install this newly perchased copy of Win XP Pro
over top of the existing one so as not to lose any
applications that have been installed, or in doing so
will all data and applications be wiped clean?

Jerry
.
Did you get a response to this one? I have asked myself

the same question.

Debbie

 

[Jim Macklin]

A "repair install" of XP Pro using the new product key
should do the job for you. You will need to run your
updates again, the new CD should have SP1.

see
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q315341&ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


message |
| >-----Original Message-----
| >I have a shrink wrapped retail version of Win XP Pro
| that
| >I've installed and activated on my own computer. I
| >installed the same disk on a friend's computer to allow
| >him to test the system without buying his own copy.
| He's
| >never activated it, and now wants to buy his own copy
| and
| >install and activate that.
| >
| >Can he install this newly perchased copy of Win XP Pro
| >over top of the existing one so as not to lose any
| >applications that have been installed, or in doing so
| >will all data and applications be wiped clean?
| >
| >Jerry
| >.
| >Did you get a response to this one? I have asked myself
| the same question.
|
| Debbie