Uninstalling or deactivating XP?

[Calvin]

Hi,

I have just bought an awesome new hard drive and copied
used the software included to copy all files from my old
hard drive to the new one. It appeared to be successful,
but now that I look closer, all windows/microsoft related
icons have disappeared (eg. Word 2002). But that's only a
minor problem. The major one is that I want to uninstall
windows from my old hard drive and format the new one,
and then install windows 98 and upgrade it to XP (i don't
have retail XP, only upgrade). Yea the activation thing
is what I think will stop this process, that's why I need
to know how to deactivate and uninstall windows from my
old computer to install a fresh copy into the new hard
drive as my old hard drive is really screwed up.

Calvin

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

You can't deactivate and you don't need to install 98 as long as you have a
retail disk of 98 as opposed to a recovery CD or some OEM version locked to
the previous setup. Install the upgrade of XP, during the upgrade you can
format and create new partitions, etc. At some point during the upgrade you
will be asked for proof of a previous operating system, insert the 98 CD in
the drive when asked for that proof.

Once setup is complete, try to activate, if it can't do so over the Internet
you will be given a phone number to call. Call the number tell them you've
removed XP from the previous computer and have installed it on your new
computer and they will give you a new activation number.

As to Word etc. if those applications are not installed on the new computer,
you will not find shortcuts to those applications. Those applications are
not now nor have they ever been a part of any Windows operating system.
They are separate applications from the operating system.

 

[Bob Knowlden]

There is no de-activation process. Just reformat (or better, wipe) the old
drive by whatever means you have.

You can format and do a clean installation of XP from a retail upgrade copy.
The only difference from the full XP version is that you'd need to insert
"qualifying media" (like a Windows 98 installation CD, not a manufacturer's
"restore" disk) during the XP installation. (I use a CD-R backup copy of my
retail Win98 upgrade CD. The only full OS installer that I own is for
Win95.)

You will need to activate XP after a fresh installation. If you can't do it
via the Net, do it by telephone. The worst case is that you'll have to
explain it to a Microsoft rep. Emphasize that XP will remain installed on
only one system. (It wouldn't have to be the original system. The rule is:
one license, one machine at a time.) The telephone process takes about five
minutes, via a toll-free number (in the US).

It's annoying, but trivial.

Bob Knowlden

Address altered to avoid spam. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

 

[Calvin]

As to Word etc. if those applications are not installed
on the new computer,

you will not find shortcuts to those applications. Those applications are
not now nor have they ever been a part of any Windows operating system.
They are separate applications from the operating system.

Oh I just used word 2002 as an example. I did install
these programs. They can run, just that word gives a
really strange error and loads the windows installer
module for some insane reason. I really meant most
windows/microsoft related things like MSDN, visual
studio, word 2002, excel 2002, msn messenger. All those
icons are missing. When I check the target icon... it
says "Windows cannot find the file %SystemRoot%
\Installer\{*Clsid or some crazy numbers*}\msdn.ico"

I have a feeling copying a hard drive in this manner is a
very bad and slipshot way.

Calvin

 

[Bill Banks]

I read that you cannot uninstall XP once it's installed.
Hmm.
Well, I think maybe I've installed it two or three times
on the same machine after gross malfunctions. Does the
program overwrite previous versions of itself?

If not, I'm losing a lot of disk space to non-functioning
versions of a big, big program.

1. How can I find out how many verions I have on this
machine?

2. How can I find out which version the machine uses to
boot up?

3. Can I just go the non-functioning versions and delete
the files one by one?

Thanks for any advice that works.
Bill

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

The operative phrase in my response was, "If the applications are not
installed on your new system," something you have now confirmed you have
done at least by way of copying the contents of the previous drive to the
new system. You may find however that you might need to reinstall some
applications.

You should run a repair install of XP as you are on a new motherboard, I'm
actually surprised the system booted to an XP desktop as usually after such
an operation as you describe results in an inability to boot the system into
Windows. Be sure you are well backed up in case there is a problem from
which you are unable to recover. NOTE, while a repair install should leave
your data files intact, if something goes wrong during the repair install,
you may be forced to start over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't
have your data backed up, you would lose your data should that eventuality
occur.


Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.



Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.



Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.



The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.