reinstalling windows xp pro

[Guest]

While traveling out west this summer, my laptop crashed. I took it to a
repair shop and they installed a copy of windows xp. Now i have an
unregistered copy on my computer. I have my original windows cd. How can I
reinstall and will I loose any of my info when I do? I'm not real sure of
myself, is this better left to a pro? Thanks Dick

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If you are getting the following error message when attempting to update:

Error Message: The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326904&Product=winxp

You'll have to purchase a new "Full Version" of Windows XP Professional
and perform a "Repair Install" using the new Windows XP Pro CD and Product Key
that comes with it. (You cannot simply change the Product Key)

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

Or if you wish to install Windows XP Home Edition,
you'll have to perform a "clean install" of XP Home Edition.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| While traveling out west this summer, my laptop crashed. I took it to a
| repair shop and they installed a copy of windows xp. Now i have an
| unregistered copy on my computer. I have my original windows cd. How can I
| reinstall and will I loose any of my info when I do? I'm not real sure of
| myself, is this better left to a pro? Thanks Dick

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the help. It looks like this is a little to complicated for me to
tackle. The program works fine, I just can't get updates. Think I will live
with it.