Uninstall XP and install XP with Key

[Guest]

I installed Windows XP on a new hard drive, my old one crashed. I didn't know about the whole Product Key thing. I would like to uninstall the XP on the hard drive now. I am going to go purchase a XP OS so I can have the key to activate it. Do I need to uninstall the XP on the computer now, or will the new OS tell me what to do?

 

[Michael Stevens]

I installed Windows XP on a new hard drive, my old one crashed. I
didn't know about the whole Product Key thing. I would like to
uninstall the XP on the hard drive now. I am going to go purchase a
XP OS so I can have the key to activate it. Do I need to uninstall
the XP on the computer now, or will the new OS tell me what to do?

Not exactly sure what you are doing, but if you have XP already, you don't
need to purchase a new version just to install on a new hard drive. If you
get a message that XP has been installed on another system, just follow the
prompts to activate by phone.
If you do need to purchase a new copy of XP and you want to preserve your
present XP installation, you will need to purchase the exact full version.
See link below to change the CD Key.
Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Change CD key.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#need2
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Alex Nichol]

I installed Windows XP on a new hard drive, my old one crashed. I didn't know about the whole Product Key thing. I would like to uninstall the XP on the hard drive now. I am going to go purchase a XP OS so I can have the key to activate it. Do I need to uninstall the XP on the computer now, or will the new OS tell me what to do?

*If* you buy a copy that is just the same as the 'temporary' one, then
you can set out to activate by phone, and in the process change the
product key to the new legitimate one. Then cancel without phoning,
and activate on the net.

If it is *not* the same type then do a clean install, formatting the
disk in the process: Boot the XP CD direct. Enter Setup, and after the
license agreement take New Install. When it asks you to confirm where,
hit ESC; select and delete the current partition and make a new RAW one
to be formatted at the next stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one