Re-Installing Windows XP

[Guest]

I need help please!!!

I purchased a pc that came pre-installed with Windows XP Home. I wanted an
upgrade so I purchased a copy of Windows XP Professional from someone online.
Lately when I log on I am being told that my XP Pro is counterfeit and I
need to purchase it again. I still have the re-installation CD of Windows XP
Home that came with my pc, but when I tried to install it, the Setup utility
says that I already have a copy of Windows XP on my C drive and if I install
the XP Home, XP Pro will be overwritten and I will lose all of my other
programs, folders, files, etc. Can someone tell me how to go about
re-installing Windows XP Home WITHOUT losing all of my other programs, files,
folders, etc. Thank you

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

I need help please!!!

I purchased a pc that came pre-installed with Windows XP Home. I wanted
an
upgrade so I purchased a copy of Windows XP Professional from someone
online.
Lately when I log on I am being told that my XP Pro is counterfeit and I
need to purchase it again. I still have the re-installation CD of Windows
XP
Home that came with my pc, but when I tried to install it, the Setup
utility
says that I already have a copy of Windows XP on my C drive and if I
install
the XP Home, XP Pro will be overwritten and I will lose all of my other
programs, folders, files, etc. Can someone tell me how to go about
re-installing Windows XP Home WITHOUT losing all of my other programs,
files,
folders, etc. Thank you

Can't be done (you can not down grade fro Pro to Home).

 

[Guest]

Do you know if I can remove XP Pro without losing my files and then install
XP Home?

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

Do you know if I can remove XP Pro without losing my files and then
install
XP Home?

Even if you nuked your windows directory using some thing like Knoppix you
would still have to reload all your software and may have problems accessing
your documents etc.

My suggestions are :-

1. If you want to load XP Home then back up all your documents, photos,
music files to CDs or some external storage such as an external USB HDD.
Don't forget to export your emails and address books, if you keep them on
your HDD, also your bookmaks. Once the data has been transfered and is
readable the do a complete reformat and install XP Home.

2. If you want to stay with XP Pro then purchase a retail version and use
that key with your existing install. Have a look at the following links :-

I need to change my XP Product Key
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#018

Windows XP Product Key Modifier
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2745.html

The magical Jellybean key finder
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Microsoft have released a Product Key Update Tool
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I need help please!!!

I purchased a pc that came pre-installed with Windows XP Home. I wanted an
upgrade so I purchased a copy of Windows XP Professional from someone online.
Lately when I log on I am being told that my XP Pro is counterfeit and I
need to purchase it again. I still have the re-installation CD of Windows XP
Home that came with my pc, but when I tried to install it, the Setup utility
says that I already have a copy of Windows XP on my C drive and if I install
the XP Home, XP Pro will be overwritten and I will lose all of my other
programs, folders, files, etc.

That's correct. I'm afraid that the only way to change from WinXP Pro
to WinXP Home is to format the drive and start over. There is no
supported downgrade path or technique.

Can someone tell me how to go about
re-installing Windows XP Home WITHOUT losing all of my other programs, files,
folders, etc. Thank you

Can't be done.

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation, simply boot from the WinXP Home installation CD. You'll
be offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as
part of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order
of boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Then the backed up data can be restored and applications re-installed.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Do you know if I can remove XP Pro without losing my files and then install
XP Home?

Not usually possible.

The normal way to "uninstall" any operating system is to format
the hard drive and install a new OS of your choice.

Only if you performed an upgrade from Win98/Me, elected to backup
the old system files, and didn't convert the partition to NTFS, can
you then boot into Safe Mode and click Start > Control Panel

Add/Remove Programs to uninstall WinXP. All of these conditions

must be met for the uninstall option to be available.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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