problems reinstalling XP Pro

[Guest]

Hi! I was running a window update install and my office mate shut down my
laptop in the middle. It would not boot after that so I did a repair install
with the original XP Pro upgrade that I purchased (I upgraded from Home
about6 months ago). I entered the correct product code, but when it
finished it
kept telling me that I did not have a genuine copy of windows....I did it
again in case I made a mistake, but it is saying it again.. I even had my
husband and son read it to me and verify what I e ntered and it is correct.
Any ideas? I already spent over $200 on the upgrade and I certainly don't
want to buy it again.
Help!!!

 

[geno]

You may have to reinstall XP Home first & then upgrade
back to XP Pro
A Little Bit of Everything.. http://www.whaatsoever.com

 

[Malke]

Hi! I was running a window update install and my office mate shut
down my
laptop in the middle. It would not boot after that so I did a repair
install with the original XP Pro upgrade that I purchased (I upgraded
from Home
about6 months ago). I entered the correct product code, but when it
finished it
kept telling me that I did not have a genuine copy of windows....I did
it
again in case I made a mistake, but it is saying it again.. I even
had my husband and son read it to me and verify what I e ntered and it
is correct.
Any ideas? I already spent over $200 on the upgrade and I certainly
don't want to buy it again.
Help!!!

It sounds like the repair install will not work - that some files are
too badly damaged. Back up the data and do a clean install. It is
completely possible to back up the data without booting Windows as long
as the hard drive is physically sound. Here are some methods:

1. Pull the drive and slave it in a computer running a working install
of XP. Depending on the target drive's characteristics, you may need a
drive adapter; i.e., laptop-to-IDE or a SATA controller card, etc. A
usb/firewire external drive enclosure works very well, too. Use the
working Windows Explorer to copy the data to the rescue system's hard
drive and then burn the data to cd or dvd.

2. Often XP will not boot with a slaved drive that has a damaged file
system. In that case, boot the target computer with either a Bart's PE
or a Linux live cd such as Knoppix and retrieve the data that way.

http://www.knoppix.net
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ - Bart's PE Builder

3. If a Bart's PE or Knoppix won't work, you can try using data recovery
software.

Then do a clean install with your XP Pro upgrade. During the
installation it will ask for qualifying media - insert your XP Home cd.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows -
What you will need on-hand

Obviously getting the data, etc. requires some equipment and computer
skills. Only you know what you have. If the procedures look too complex
- and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea - take
the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local
version of BigStoreUSA).

Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your help...I probably will take it to a computer store...the guy
is good and we went to school together...he'll fix me up...AND explain what
he's doing so I understand...I always want to learn!

 

[Paul Knudsen]

You may have to reinstall XP Home first & then upgrade
back to XP Pro

I thought Pro could not update Home????

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I thought Pro could not update Home????

No, not so. Not only is it a supported upgrade path, but in fact it's the
easiest and most-likely successful of all possible upgrade, because so
little needs to be changed.

 

[Guest]

It was a VERY easy upgrade from Home to Pro. I was very pleased.