Updating unlicensed Windows XP

[Guest]

A family member had a custom-built PC but came with an unlicensed copy of
Windows XP Pro. There's been problems installing software which I've traced
back to this illegal copy of Windows. I purchased my own retail copy of
Windows XP Home which I was going to use to upgrade the old system. However,
during the initial set up phase I receive the following message...

"Setup cannot upgrade your current installation of Windows. Your current
installation of Windows is not a supported upgrade path."

I've attempted to create a backup of the hard drive but I'm having problems
with the CD-W not being a "valid path." So I'm hesitant to delete the old
system and start anew because my brother doesn't have any drivers stored on
disks.

Is there a way to get around this? Thanks in advance for any assistance!

 

[Quentin David Jones]

Hiya,

I think in this case "upgrade path" means

from which Windows to which other Windows

I suspect Prof -> Home doesn't work.

Q.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Windows XP Pro to Windows XP Home is a downgrade and not an upgrade.
There is no downgrade path from Pro to Home so you need to perform a Clean
Installation of Windows XP Home:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/cleanxp.htm

You can use FAST to back-up important data before you begin:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

 

[Shenan Stanley]

A family member had a custom-built PC but came with an unlicensed
copy of Windows XP Pro. There's been problems installing software
which I've traced back to this illegal copy of Windows. I
purchased my own retail copy of Windows XP Home which I was going
to use to upgrade the old system. However, during the initial set
up phase I receive the following message...

"Setup cannot upgrade your current installation of Windows. Your
current installation of Windows is not a supported upgrade path."

I've attempted to create a backup of the hard drive but I'm having
problems with the CD-W not being a "valid path." So I'm hesitant
to delete the old system and start anew because my brother doesn't
have any drivers stored on disks.

Is there a way to get around this? Thanks in advance for any
assistance!

You purchased Windows XP Home Edition (I assume since it was cheaper) - but
you had an illegitimate copy of Windows XP Professional already installed.

There is no path from Windows XP Professional to Windows XP Home except a
clean install.

It is a downgrade.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

A family member had a custom-built PC but came with an unlicensed copy of
Windows XP Pro. There's been problems installing software which I've traced
back to this illegal copy of Windows. I purchased my own retail copy of
Windows XP Home which I was going to use to upgrade the old system. However,
during the initial set up phase I receive the following message...

"Setup cannot upgrade your current installation of Windows. Your current
installation of Windows is not a supported upgrade path."

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.

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.

I've attempted to create a backup of the hard drive but I'm having problems
with the CD-W not being a "valid path." So I'm hesitant to delete the old
system and start anew because my brother doesn't have any drivers stored on
disks.

WinXP's NTBackup does not recognize CDRs or CDRWs as valid backup
media. By design, it will only write back-ups to tape drives or
another physical or logical hard drive. Many people back-up to a
spare hard drive, and then burn the resulting file to a CD, as a
work-around. Another option, of course, is to use a 3rd party backup
solution.

Is there a way to get around this? Thanks in advance for any assistance!

You could purchase and use a _legitimate_ retail or OEM full
license of WinXP Pro to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade)
installation, using the new CD and Product Keys.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341


--

Bruce Chambers

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