loading home edition xp

[Guest]

Hi,
My present hard disc uses xp professional -- but this was already installed
when I bought my PC, and it seems to be a pirated version.
Consequently, I've now bought windows xp home edition. If I load this in my
CD drive, will it install home edition -- and save all my files (in their
present folders, settings, etc.) when it does so?
Or should I make a systems back up first? And if so, is it best to do this
on floppies, please?
Would be very grateful for any advice,
Many thanks in advance!
With best,

BB.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

There is no downgrade path from Pro to Home so you will need to perform a
Clean Installation of Home:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/cleanxp.htm
You will need to save your data since none will be saved, FAST can help:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

Also see:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

No. You cannot downgrade Pro to Home. If you have not opened the package,
return it for credit against a copy of Pro.

If you attempt to install Home on a hard drive with Pro the only way you can
succeed is to wipe out Pro and all your files and do a clean install of
Home.

At this point you are better off buying Pro. All that you will have to do
is go to

Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Activate Windows

and run the Wizard. It will allow you to enter a new product key (the one
from the retail copy of XP Pro) and then it will activate based on the new
key. This is all you need to do to legitimize your installed copy of Pro.
You do not need to reinstall your OS. Just provide a legal key.

The product key from Home will not work.