Windows XP replacing Win XP professional with home edition

[jumpjack]

I have a not-genuine Pro installation; I bought a Home edition. How can I over-install without formatting? Installation locks up!

 

[Ian]

You can't quite simply, a re-format with your new edition is the only way to go.

 

[jumpjack]

couldn't I hack the damned MBR to make it "pretend" to be Home edition? I guess this is the reason instalaltion faisl... or not?

 

[muckshifter]

Why don't you just ask Bill for a free copy ...


Try Linux, it's free.

 

[floppybootstomp]

couldn't I hack the damned MBR to make it "pretend" to be Home edition? I guess this is the reason instalaltion faisl... or not?

Annoying, innit?

You may be able to hack the damned mbr, you may not be able to, who knows?

This is how William Gates Esquire made lottsa dough, by people not knowing.

If you want an easy life, just reformat, install your new legit copy of XP Home and enjoy.

Or, as my erstwhile colleague mr mucks suggests, entertain Linux. At this moment, most distros are actually quite easy to understand

 

[jumpjack]

install your new legit copy of XP Home and enjoy.

"enjoy"re-installing dozens of apps... :-(

 

[Anon_F]

couldn't I hack the damned MBR to make it "pretend" to be Home edition?

Hacking Microsoft is deemed by MS to be bad.
If you run a dodgy copy of an O/S Microsoft could ping your pc, what this does is MS plant a very small piece of script which makes your pc shut down, finding it as i once found out took 2 weeks to solve!

 

[jumpjack]

evil MS....