Upgrade from XP Home to XP Pro

[Malcolm]

Hi

I purchased an upgrade from XP Home to XP Pro and
successfully installed and activated this on my PC.

I then tried to upgrade my son's PC (again from XP Home
to XP Pro) and this installed ok but I can't activate it
as I have now found out that the activation code can only
be used once. I have 24 days left in which to activate
this upgrade.

At the end of this 24 days, what will happen? Will I
still be able to use my son's PC ? Will I be still able
to use the original XP Home installation?

Regards
Malcolm

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Unless you purchase a new Product Key and activate, at the end
of 30 days you'll be unable to logon on to the XP Pro installation.
You can either purchase a new Windows XP Pro Product Key
or you'll have to perform a "clean install" of XP Home.

On the back of the Windows XP box, please read the statement
"For installation and use on one computer"
(see License Agreement for license terms).

To access the License Agreement on your XP computer, go to:

Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter.

Then click on "End-User License Agreement".

You can also open XP's "Help and Support" and type: EULA
and hit enter. Click on "Questions and answers about the EULA".

The End-User License Agreement states quite clearly:

"You may install, use, access, display and run one (1) copy
of the Software on a single (1) computer...."

Each installation of Windows XP, installed on a different computer,
will require the purchase of a new license (Product Key).
Otherwise, you'll not be able to activate XP on the subsequent installations.

HOW TO: Change the Product Key at the Time of Activation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810892&Product=winxp

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp

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

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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


| Hi
|
| I purchased an upgrade from XP Home to XP Pro and
| successfully installed and activated this on my PC.
|
| I then tried to upgrade my son's PC (again from XP Home
| to XP Pro) and this installed ok but I can't activate it
| as I have now found out that the activation code can only
| be used once. I have 24 days left in which to activate
| this upgrade.
|
| At the end of this 24 days, what will happen? Will I
| still be able to use my son's PC ? Will I be still able
| to use the original XP Home installation?
|
| Regards
| Malcolm

 

[Malcolm]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I understand that an extra key
would need to be purchased for the upgrade to an
additional PC but do I also have an option to revert to
my XP Home installation which does have a valid product
key?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

An upgrade to XP Pro is a one-way ticket with no uninstall option.
Backup your important files and documents to a CD, then perform a
"clean install" of XP Home:

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

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

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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


| Hi
|
| Thanks for the reply. Yes, I understand that an extra key
| would need to be purchased for the upgrade to an
| additional PC but do I also have an option to revert to
| my XP Home installation which does have a valid product
| key?